The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an outbreak of Ebola disease in Sub-Saharan Africa as a public health emergency of international concern due to the absence of any approved vaccines.
The current epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is being caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines. As such, the WHO has classed this outbreak as “extraordinary”. Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person and does not spread through casual contact or air.
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Previous epidemics of Ebola disease have often been caused by Zaire ebolavirus. This includes the 2014 event that caused 11,323 deaths – classed as the most prevalent in the disease’s history. For this virus, there are several approved vaccines. The primary vaccine is MSD’s Ervebo, while J&J has also developed a two-dose regimen under the brand names Zabdeno and Mvabea.
As of May 2026, the WHO reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as 80 deaths thought to be related to the virus. There have been a further two cases in Uganda.
The WHO stated it is hard to ascertain the true number of infected individuals and the scale of geographic spread. Combined with the increasing trends of cases and clusters of deaths, the WHO said these “point towards a potentially much larger outbreak than what is currently being detected and reported”.
While the organisation said that no country should currently close its borders to regions affected by the epidemic, it did say that the event requires international coordination and cooperation. One of these activities, particularly for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, is to implement clinical trials to advance the development and use of candidate therapeutics and vaccines.
Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, said: “The situation requires speed, scientific rigour and regional solidarity. We are working with DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and partners to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and response, and to help contain transmission as quickly as possible.”
An MSD spokesperson told Pharmaceutical Technology: “We are disheartened to learn of a new confirmed outbreak of Ebola of a suggested non-Zaire strain in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are actively monitoring the evolving situation and are encouraged to see a collaborative outbreak response plan taking shape.”
The spokesperson added that the company is coordinating with international bodies to maintain a stockpile inventory of Ervebo to support outbreak response and global public health preparedness against Zaire ebolavirus disease.
Meanwhile, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said it is preparing to rapidly scale up its medical response in affected provinces. The humanitarian group is mobilising more teams comprising medical, logistical, and support staff experienced in responding to viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks, as well as essential supplies, to launch a large-scale response.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while commenting that the risk to American public health remains low, has also mobilised response activities. This includes conducting surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, infection prevention and control, and other outbreak containment efforts.
The wider international response from WHO member states to the ongoing Ebola outbreak could be the first to utilise the WHO’s Pandemic Agreement. Also informally known as the Pandemic Treaty and Pandemic Accords, the framework was formally adopted in May 2025. The Pandemic Agreement is an international joint initiative to fight the next pathogens that threaten global health. It includes a variety of measures to shore up the world’s infectious disease defences via health initiatives and instilling a ‘One Health’ approach.
WHO did not immediately respond to Pharmaceutical Technology when asked if the Pandemic Agreement would be invoked in relation to the Ebola outbreak.
