Bhubaneswar: The WHO has officially declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

As of May 18, 2026, the outbreak is rapidly escalating across Central Africa. The suspected case burden has risen to 246, and the epicentre has been Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The dangerous twist in the Ebola 3rd outbreak has been that it was traced to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, first identified in Uganda in 2007.

According to WHO investigations, the outbreak likely began in the mining-heavy Mongbwalu region of eastern Congo before spreading to nearby health zones and eventually into Uganda through cross-border movement.

Scientists believe the virus initially jumped from infected wildlife to humans — most likely through contact with fruit bats or infected animals, considered natural reservoirs of Ebola viruses.

The outbreak then spiralled due to:

·        Delayed diagnosis

·        Weak rural healthcare systems

·        Unsafe funerals

·        Movement across porous borders

·        Infection of healthcare workers

WHO says the virus circulated silently for nearly four weeks before being officially detected.

Why This Ebola Variant is Triggering Concern

Unlike some earlier Ebola outbreaks, the Bundibugyo strain currently has:

·        No licensed vaccine

·        No approved targeted treatment

·        Limited outbreak experience globally

That has forced health authorities to rely heavily on traditional containment methods like isolation, tracing contacts, safe burials and protective gear.

Ebola Symptoms: What Happens After Infection?

The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days, means symptoms can appear between 2 and 21 days after exposure.

Important: Early symptoms often resemble flu or malaria, making detection difficult initially.

Common symptoms include:

·        High fever

·        Extreme fatigue

·        Muscle pain

·        Headache

·        Sore throat

·        Vomiting

·        Diarrhoea

·        Severe weakness

In advanced stages, patients may suffer:

·        Internal bleeding

·        Bleeding from gums or nose

·        Organ failure

·        Shock

How it is different from Covid-19: WHO says patients become infectious only after symptoms begin appearing.

How Ebola Spreads

Ebola is not an airborne disease like Covid-19.

It spreads through direct contact with:

·        Blood

·        Vomit

·        Sweat

·        Saliva

·        Urine

·        Semen

·        Contaminated surfaces

·        Infected dead bodies

Transmission risk becomes extremely high during caregiving and funeral rituals without protective equipment.

How to Prevent Ebola Infection

Health authorities recommend the following.

·        Avoiding contact with infected persons

·        Frequent hand hygiene

·        Using protective gear while caring for patients

·        Avoiding handling dead bodies without protection

·        Immediate medical isolation if symptoms appear

·        Reporting travel history from affected countries

Is This Another Pandemic?

WHO has clarified that the Ebola outbreak is a global public health emergency but not a pandemic emergency at present.

However, experts warn that urban spread, weak surveillance and international travel could complicate containment if early intervention fails.

For now, the world is watching Central Africa closely — because in modern global travel networks, even geographically distant outbreaks rarely remain isolated for long.

Also Read: Ebola Outbreak 2026: Why India Faces Lower Immediate Risk Despite Global Alarm, Govt Tightens Surveillance