The Ebola Outbreak No One Was Prepared For: A Deadly Virus With No Vaccine Is Spreading (opens in new tab)

On May 17, 2026, the WHO declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain — which has no approved vaccine or treatment — the outbreak began in late April in Ituri Province and rapidly spread across health zones and international borders. By May 18, over 395 suspected cases and more than 100 deaths had been recorded. An American doctor, Dr. Peter Safford, was among the confirmed ca...