The Ebola outbreak: 12 things hospital leaders need to know

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency on May 19, 2026, due to a new Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This marks the third time the WHO has issued such a declaration and the second outbreak involving this strain, which has historically carried a mortality rate between 25% and 50%. The last major Ebola outbreak occurred in West Africa between 2013 and 2014, resulting in over 20,000 cases and 11,000 deaths. Experts, including Amesh Adalja of Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, suggest this outbreak is unlikely to reach that scale but warn containment may take several months. The current outbreak is located in a remote province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, unlike the 2013-2014 outbreak, which spread through major West African cities. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has activated its response protocols, including mobilizing resources and establishing communication channels among hospitals and health departments. The CDC issued a Health Alert Network advisory on May 19, urging hospitals to assess patients with symptoms like fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue for potential exposure and to immediately isolate and hospitalize suspected cases. The U.S. has developed 13 biocontainment units across the nation to handle high-consequence infectious diseases like Ebola and hantavirus. The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center oversees these units and provides resources for infectious disease preparedness, including a guide specific to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. The CDC maintains a list of on-call epidemiology contacts for every state to guide providers on reporting potential cases. Anne Ancia, a WHO representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, noted that the last outbreak in the region took two years to contain, though she hopes this one will be resolved more quickly. The CDC has stated the risk to the U.S. remains low, but hospitals are being advised to remain vigilant in screening and managing potential cases. The outbreak's origin and duration remain unclear, but experts emphasize the importance of preparedness and rapid response.