Explore

Rapid Read Rapid Read
CDC Implements Ebola Screening at Atlanta Airport Amid Epidemic Concerns

CDC Implements Ebola Screening at Atlanta Airport Amid Epidemic Concerns

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has introduced enhanced public health screenings at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for passengers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. This measure is in response to a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which currently lacks approved vaccines or treatments. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. The screenings at Atlanta expand upon those already in place at Washington-Dulles International Airport since May 20. The CDC's approach includes overseas exit screening, airline illness reporting, and post-arrival monitoring. As of May 23, there have been 91 confirmed cases and 10 deaths in Congo, with additional cases in Uganda.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
WHO Raises Ebola Outbreak Risk to 'Very High' as Cases Surge in Congo and Uganda

WHO Raises Ebola Outbreak Risk to 'Very High' as Cases Surge in Congo and Uganda

The World Health Organization (WHO) has escalated the risk level of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 'very high' due to a rapid increase in cases. The outbreak, which began in May 2026, has resulted in nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths, making it one of the largest on record. In Uganda, five cases have been confirmed, including a health worker and a Congolese woman who traveled through the country. The U.S. has pledged $23 million to aid the crisis response in both countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel ban for non-U.S. passport holders from affected regions and is coordinating with international partners to manage potential exposures.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Congo Faces Challenges in Ebola Outbreak Amidst Armed Conflict and Aid Cuts

Congo Faces Challenges in Ebola Outbreak Amidst Armed Conflict and Aid Cuts

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, health workers are struggling to contain an Ebola outbreak that has resulted in over 900 suspected cases and 119 deaths, primarily in the Ituri Province. The outbreak, declared on May 15, 2026, is complicated by ongoing violence from armed groups and a lack of resources due to international aid cuts. The Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which lacks an approved vaccine, is responsible for the outbreak. The situation is exacerbated by distrust in local communities and poor infrastructure, making it difficult for health responders to operate effectively.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Ebola Outbreak in DRC Prompts U.S. Travel Restrictions and International Response

Ebola Outbreak in DRC Prompts U.S. Travel Restrictions and International Response

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is spreading rapidly, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise its risk assessment to 'very high.' The outbreak has resulted in nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths. In response, the U.S. has implemented travel restrictions for individuals without American passports who have been in the DRC, South Sudan, or Uganda in the past three weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is coordinating with airlines and international partners to manage travelers potentially exposed to the virus. An American doctor working in the DRC has tested positive for Ebola and is receiving treatment in Germany.
AP News AP News
A second Ebola treatment center is set ablaze in eastern Congo, with 18 suspected cases fleeing

A second Ebola treatment center is set ablaze in eastern Congo, with 18 suspected cases fleeing

Angry residents in eastern Congo have attacked and burned a tent that was part of a health center treating Ebola patients
AP News AP News
Congo suspends funeral wakes and big gatherings in Ebola outbreak, as WHO upgrades risk assessment

Congo suspends funeral wakes and big gatherings in Ebola outbreak, as WHO upgrades risk assessment

Authorities in northeastern Congo have banned funeral wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people to curb a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak
AP News AP News
Ugandans rue link to Bundibugyo, the Ebola virus type named after a district of cocoa farmers

Ugandans rue link to Bundibugyo, the Ebola virus type named after a district of cocoa farmers

Bundibugyo is the somewhat easy-to-mispronounce name of a species of Ebola
AP News AP News
Congo curtails funeral wakes in Ebola outbreak as WHO upgrades risk assessment

Congo curtails funeral wakes in Ebola outbreak as WHO upgrades risk assessment

Authorities in northeastern Congo have banned funeral wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people to curb a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak
AP News AP News
WHO chief says Ebola outbreak in Congo is 'spreading rapidly' and upgrades risk assessment

WHO chief says Ebola outbreak in Congo is 'spreading rapidly' and upgrades risk assessment

The head of the World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in Congo is spreading rapidly and poses a “very high” risk at the national level
Rapid Read Rapid Read
WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in Congo as 'Spreading Rapidly', Raises Risk Assessment

WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in Congo as 'Spreading Rapidly', Raises Risk Assessment

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is 'spreading rapidly' and has upgraded the risk assessment to 'very high' at the national level. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the outbreak, which has confirmed 82 cases and seven deaths, is much larger than previously reported, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths. The situation in neighboring Uganda remains stable, with two confirmed cases and one death. In response, the United Nations has released $60 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to aid the response efforts in Congo and the region. The United States has pledged $23 million to support the establishment of up to 50 Ebola treatment clinics in the affected areas of Congo and Uganda.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Residents in Congo Set Fire to Ebola Center Amid Growing Fear and Anger

Residents in Congo Set Fire to Ebola Center Amid Growing Fear and Anger

In eastern Congo, residents set fire to an Ebola treatment center in Rwampara after being prevented from retrieving the body of a local man suspected to have died from Ebola. The incident reflects the challenges faced by health workers in curbing the Ebola outbreak, as stringent measures clash with local customs, such as burial rites. The outbreak has been spreading in a region with limited health facilities and ongoing armed conflict. The arson attack was carried out by local youths who were frustrated by the authorities' protocols for burying suspected Ebola victims, which require bodies to be buried according to specific regulations to prevent further spread of the virus.
AP News AP News
WHO chief says Ebola is spreading rapidly in Congo, upgrades risk assessment

WHO chief says Ebola is spreading rapidly in Congo, upgrades risk assessment

The head of the World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in Congo is spreading rapidly and poses a “very high” risk at the national level