WHO Raises Alarm as DRC Ebola Outbreak Threatens Neighbouring African Countries
Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organization has warned that the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo poses a growing threat to neighbouring African countries, urging governments to strengthen surveillance and preparedness to prevent cross-border transmission.
The warning was contained in a report released on Friday after the second meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, held on August 18, 2026.
The committee maintained that the Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), although it does not currently meet the threshold for a pandemic emergency.
49 health zones still battling active transmission
According to WHO, the outbreak had spread to 55 health zones across the DRC as of August 12, with 49 zones still recording active transmission.
The committee identified 15 health zones as being at the highest risk of further spread, including four located along the borders with Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.
“The Committee therefore emphasises the need for urgent, decisive and coordinated action to control Bundibugyo virus disease transmission in the DRC,” the report stated
WHO’s readiness assessment revealed significant differences in preparedness among countries bordering the DRC and Uganda.
The assessment scored:
Central African Republic – 38%
Republic of Congo – 50%
Tanzania – 53%
Angola – 64%
South Sudan – 65%
Zambia – 70%
Rwanda – 94%
No readiness data were available for Burundi and Kenya.
The committee said South Sudan currently faces the highest risk of cross-border transmission because of its close links with affected areas in the DRC, while Uganda, despite recently ending its own Ebola outbreak, remains vulnerable to imported cases.
WHO, however, noted that the risk of international spread beyond Africa remains very low.
The committee urged African governments and international partners to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, treatment capacity and community engagement.
It also warned that insecurity, displacement of populations and limited humanitarian access could undermine efforts to contain the outbreak.
“The imperative is clear: interrupt Bundibugyo virus disease transmission rapidly, protect affected communities and health workers, maintain essential health services, prevent further geographic and cross-border spread, and mobilise the political, operational and financial support necessary to bring the epidemic under control,” the committee said.
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