FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATIVE NEW DIAGNOSTICS (FIND)

WHO Declares Bundibugyo Virus Outbreak a Public Health Emergency, Adds First Diagnostic Test to EUL

- WHO declared the Ebola disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026, with 1,406 confirmed cases and 438 deaths reported in the DRC alone. - The WHO added the first molecular diagnostic test for Bundibugyo virus to its Emergency Use Listing, enabling rapid and accurate detection through genetic material identification in blood samples. - Unlike Ebola-Zaire strains, there are currently no approved Bundibugyo virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines, making diagnostic tools and supportive care the primary response measures. - Laboratory testing capacity has expanded from 200–400 tests per day to over 2,000 tests per day across 10 laboratories in affected provinces, supported by WHO and Africa CDC.