WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency — Nigeria Activates Airport Screening as 246 Cases Confirmed in DRC and Uganda

The World Health Organisation declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 16, 2026, after a second imported case was confirmed in Kampala. As of May 16, the DRC Ministry of Health had reported 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths, with the epicentre in Mongbwalu Health Zone in Ituri Province, a high-traffic gold-mining area with extensive cross-border labour movement to Uganda and South Sudan.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus (Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense), a species last responsible for a major outbreak in 2007–2008. On May 18, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice and, alongside the Department of Homeland Security, implemented enhanced traveller screening and entry restrictions for non-US passport holders arriving from DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within the preceding 21 days. An American missionary doctor, Peter Stafford, was airlifted from DRC to Berlin's Charité Hospital on May 19 the first Ebola medical evacuation to Europe in the current outbreak.

Nigeria's Federal Government activated airport screening protocols and strengthened surveillance at all international points of entry on May 21. The government's National Centre for Disease Control confirmed no cases in Nigeria but issued guidance for health workers and travellers with recent history in affected areas. Nigeria's proximity to the outbreak's air travel corridor Abuja and Lagos receive regular flights from Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Entebbe elevates the importation risk above that of 2014, when a single Liberian traveller seeded an outbreak that killed eight in Lagos.

Public health experts note that Nigeria's NCDC has significantly strengthened its response infrastructure since 2014 and maintained preparedness capacity through repeated Lassa fever outbreaks. All Lassa fever testing laboratories have been placed on standby for potential Ebola testing activation.