WHO upgrades Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak risk to 'very high' in DRC

Health officials warned that the current Bundibugyo strain Ebola flare-up in the Democratic Republic of Congo now carries a heightened chance of spreading across the country, a shift that could accelerate the scale and complexity of the response. On May 22, 2026, the World Health Organization assessed the national risk as “very high,” signaling deeper concern about transmission beyond the areas already affected. ^[1]

The change marked an explicit upgrade from the agency’s previous assessment of “high,” reflecting a judgment that the outbreak’s trajectory inside Congo has become more dangerous. The WHO’s revised language underscores the possibility that containment measures may face growing pressure if infections move into new communities or provinces. ^[2]

The move is the latest development in a fast-moving situation that has drawn increasing international attention. On May 22, the WHO’s revised assessment effectively reset the tone of the emergency response, with national spread now framed as a more imminent threat than before. ^[1]

While the agency’s update focused on the national-risk level, the new “very high” designation also serves as a warning to health authorities and partners that the window for preventing wider transmission could narrow quickly. ^[2]