The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations, 2005. The declaration was made on May 17, 2026, following rising cases of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.According to India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus affecting both the DRC and Uganda.In response to the evolving health crisis, the Government of India has advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan until further notice. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation amid concerns over cross-border spread and public health preparedness.The WHO’s emergency declaration is aimed at strengthening international coordination, surveillance, and response efforts to contain the deadly virus outbreak. Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated surfaces.