WHO Declares Public Health Emergency Over Ebola; India Issues Travel Advisory

Following WHO declaring Ebola a public health emergency, the Indian government asked citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. In its press release, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that Indian citizens currently residing in or travelling to these countries are advised to strictly follow public health guidance issued by local authorities and maintain heightened precautions.

As per the official information, India has not yet reported any cases of Ebola linked to the Bundibugyo strain.Read Full Press Release Earlier on May 21, India issued a health advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola-affected countries, asking those with symptoms or exposure history to immediately report to airport health authorities before immigration clearance.

‘World at risk of fast-spreading diseases’ WHO warns

The World Health Organisation, on Saturday, has warned the world of fast-spreading diseases amid the current Ebola and Hantavirus outbreaks. Speaking at the seventy-ninth World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland on May 23, 2026, WHO head Tedros Ghebreyesus said that the recent Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks demonstrate that the world is still vulnerable to rapidly spreading infectious diseases. His call came as Ugandan authorities confirmed on Saturday that there were three new cases of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which to date has neither a cure nor a vaccine.

Also read: Ebola outbreak: Flights diverted, borders tightened — how countries are taking precautions

Uganda Reports 867 Ebola cases, 204 dead

The Ebola outbreak in central Africa is spreading rapidly, with almost 867 suspected cases and 204 deaths reported in Congo as of late Saturday by the health ministry. The outbreak now affects three provinces in DRC, with the first case confirmed in South Kivu. Two cases, including one death, have also been confirmed in neighbouring Uganda after individuals travelled from DRC.

How does Ebola virus spread?

The Ebola outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no specific vaccine. A bat-borne viral disease that often turns fatal, Ebola spreads by contact with body fluids of an infected person or animal or contaminated objects. On rare instances, the virus was observed to be airborne. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average Ebola disease case fatality rate is around 50 per cent, while case fatality rates have varied from 25–90 per cent in past outbreaks.

Governments across the world are tightening border screening and quarantine preparedness.

Also read: 867 cases, 204 dead, no vaccine: Ebola outbreak spirals in DRC; Uganda closes border