The latest on the Ebola crisis
Up-to-date news on the Ebola outbreak in the U.S. and overseas
www.cbsnews.comHere’s the latest on Ebola virus disease (EBOV) news as of mid-May 2026.
Key developments
- WHO declares Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) a global health emergency. The current outbreak variant is Bundibugyo, with confirmed concerns about case counts and geographic spread; authorities caution there are uncertainties in exact numbers. The declaration signals a concerted international response, though it does not classify the situation as a pandemic emergency at this time.[3][5]
- Outbreak metrics in the DRC: reports describe hundreds of cases and dozens of deaths across multiple health zones, with the WHO indicating continued surveillance and response efforts as of early September 2025; later reports note the end of the particular outbreak on 1 December 2025 after meeting containment criteria (no new cases after incubation periods). Ongoing risk communications and surveillance remained part of post-outbreak monitoring in the region.[7][8]
- Recent history shows periodic re-emergences in Central and East Africa, with several outbreaks in the last few years prompting vaccination campaigns, ring vaccination trials, and international support for surveillance and response. Global health observers continue to monitor for new cases, potential vaccine developments, and treatment availability, recognizing that some EBOV variants still lack approved vaccines or treatments as of the latest updates.[1][6][3][7]
What this means for you
- If you’re in California or the U.S., EBOV remains primarily a global health concern with localized risk unless there are new imported cases or outbreaks in nearby regions; stay aligned with CDC advisories and local health department guidance for travel, vaccination, and clinical care if exposure occurs [no direct citation here since this is general guidance; check your local public health source for current recommendations].
Illustration: outbreak trajectory overview
- Early 2025: WHO-led response with vaccination trials and swift funding deployments in affected countries like Uganda; continued international support.[1]
- 2025: DR Congo outbreak actions and monitoring with progress toward containment; end-of-outbreak declaration in December 2025 for that specific event.[8][7]
- 2026: WHO advisory activity and global health emergency designation in the DR Congo context, with ongoing risk assessment for other regions.[5][3]
If you’d like, I can summarize the latest WHO situation reports (DON series) and provide a concise timeline or assemble a visual chart of cases by week for the DR Congo outbreak. I can also pull the most recent official statements from WHO or local health authorities and provide inline citations.