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WHO Update on Hantavirus and Ebola as DR Congo Outbreak Grows
Published: 18 May 2026 | Source: WHO World Health Assembly, Africa CDC, CBS News
GENEVA — The World Health Organization will deliver a WHO update on hantavirus and Ebola at 13:30 BST on Monday, addressing two simultaneous outbreaks that test the global health system’s capacity to respond across conflict zones and international borders. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will report on the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo — now at more than 390 suspected cases and at least 100 deaths — and a hantavirus cluster aboard a cruise ship that docked in Rotterdam with 11 confirmed infections and three fatalities.
The Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the latest case figures to the BBC on 18 May 2026. The outbreak in eastern Ituri province involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved drugs or vaccines exist.
The virus has spread beyond DR Congo. Uganda confirmed two cases, including one death. Both individuals had travelled from DR Congo. Rwanda and South Sudan are now on high alert. At least six Americans have been exposed to the virus, according to sources who spoke to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner CBS News report, May 2026.
The WHO previously warned the outbreak could be “much larger” than what surveillance has detected. Dr Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, told the BBC that special care must be taken around the funerals of those infected due to the high transmission risk from bodily fluids.
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The Hantavirus Outbreak on the MV Hondius
The Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius reached Rotterdam on Monday after more than a month at sea. The vessel carried approximately 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries. A hantavirus outbreak aboard killed three people, a Dutch couple and a German woman, and infected at least 11 others, according to WHO officials WHO situation update, 18 May 2026.
Canadian authorities confirmed an additional case on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to 11. Only crew members remained on board when the ship docked.
Tedros told the World Health Assembly that “there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” but added that “given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”
He thanked Spanish officials for their assistance in managing the outbreak.
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What Both Outbreaks Reveal
The two outbreaks expose a shared structural challenge, according to health governance experts. The International Health Regulations, the legal framework governing global disease reporting, rely on national governments to detect, report, and contain pathogens. In eastern DR Congo, where M23 rebels control parts of the affected zone, the sovereign authority upon which the WHO depends does not fully control the territory where Bundibugyo Ebola is spreading.
The hantavirus cluster exposes a different dimension of the same vulnerability. A cruise ship flagged by one nation, carrying passengers from 23 countries, touching multiple ports before the virus was identified, creates jurisdictional fragmentation that pathogens exploit.
Tedros also highlighted institutional progress during his opening remarks, including the WHO’s new science division and the 2025 prequalification of lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV drug. These achievements demonstrate capacity when political and commercial conditions align.
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FAQ: WHO Ebola and Hantavirus Update 2026
What time is the WHO briefing on Ebola and hantavirus?
The WHO briefing is scheduled for 13:30 BST (12:30 GMT) on 18 May 2026, from the World Health Assembly in Geneva. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will address both outbreaks.
How many Ebola cases are there in DR Congo?
The Africa CDC reports more than 390 suspected cases and at least 100 deaths in Ituri province. Two confirmed cases, including one fatality, have been reported in Uganda.
Is there a vaccine for the Bundibugyo Ebola strain?
No. The Bundibugyo virus has no approved drugs or vaccines. The pharmaceutical pipeline invested in the Zaire strain, which caused the 2018-2020 epidemic. Bundibugyo remains unfunded.
What happened on the MV Hondius cruise ship?
A hantavirus outbreak infected 11 people and killed three. The ship was quarantined for more than a month before docking in Rotterdam on 18 May 2026. Only the crew remained on board.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that can cause severe respiratory disease in humans. It spreads through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is rare, but the long incubation period complicates containment.
Written by the Global Health Desk, drawing on the World Health Organization’s World Health Assembly proceedings, Africa CDC briefings, and CBS News reporting. The desk has covered infectious disease outbreaks and global health governance for over 15 years.