health
With Ebola "spreading rapidly" in Congo, WHO upgrades national risk level to "very high"
Updated on: May 22, 2026 / 10:21 PM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- The WHO has raised the risk assessment for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to "very high" at the national level due to its rapid spread.
- Authorities in northeastern Congo have banned funeral wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people, requiring strict compliance with health protocols for funerals.
- Misinformation and clashes with local customs, such as burial rites, have led to community pushback and protests against health officials.
- An Ebola treatment center in Rwampara was set on fire by local youths angered by restrictions on retrieving the body of a suspected Ebola victim for a traditional funeral.
- The outbreak is occurring in a region with weak health infrastructure, ongoing armed conflicts, and a large internally displaced population.
- There is currently no available vaccine or medicine for the specific strain of Ebola responsible for this outbreak, with a potential vaccine expected in six to nine months.
- International travel restrictions have been implemented by the U.S., and the India-Africa Forum Summit has been postponed due to the outbreak.