WHO Confirms 13 Ebola Cases in DRC, Marking 17th Outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed 13 cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting the persistent threat of outbreaks and the importance of international health cooperation.

Fri May 15 2026

Current Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 13 cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following a signal of suspected cases received on May 5th, WHO dispatched a team to Ituri to support DRC health officials in their investigation. While initial field tests were negative, samples were subsequently sent to the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa, which confirmed some as positive for Ebola yesterday.

Persistent Threat and Importance of Global Cooperation

This marks the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, underscored that this outbreak is a reminder of the persistent threat to human health posed by disease outbreaks. He further emphasized the importance of cooperation and solidarity to continually strengthen global health security.

*Source: YouTube: USA TODAY (2026-05-15)*

Tags: #WHO #Ebola #DRC #Health Crisis #Outbreak