Public Health Update for Health Care Providers: Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda Deemed a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

Alert Date
Location
Windsor-Essex County

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is notifying health care providers of an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus that was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda on May 15, 2026, for which the World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed a public health emergency of international concern.1

Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD), a strain of Ebola, has a fatality rate of up to 50% with no vaccine or specific treatment available.1 The WECHU encourages you to maintain awareness of potential cases among individuals returning from affected regions as early screening and detection of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) is essential to prevent disease transmission and lower infected individuals’ risk of death.
 
Clinical Presentation
The incubation period for symptoms ranges from 2 to 21 days and is spread person to person through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected individual. Ebola can also spread through contact with contaminated objects or from an infected animal. Early symptoms of Ebola may include sudden onset fever or chills, headache, malaise, fatigue, and myalgia. These symptoms may progress to nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and hemorrhagic manifestations (e.g., petechial or purpural rash, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematemesis, bloody stools, conjunctival injection, etc.).2  

Immediate Actions for Suspect VHF Cases2

  • Follow the Ministry of Health’s Notification Pathway for Special Pathogens.
  • Immediately implement Public Health Ontario’s recommended IPAC measures including routine practices, plus droplet and contact precautions, with use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Do not draw blood for VHF or any other testing.
  • Consult your institution's IPAC lead/team and Infectious Disease physician, where available.
  • Notify the Ministry of Health via the 24/7 Health Care Provider Hotline at 1-866-212-2272.
  • Report to the WECHU by phone at 519-258-2146 ext. 1420 (Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM). For after hours, weekends, and holidays, call 519-973-4510.

References

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). 2026. Disease Outbreak News. Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo & Uganda. Who.int
  2. Public Health Ontario. (2026). Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Clinical Risk Assessment Tool. Publichealthontario.ca