DR Congo Declares 17th Ebola Outbreak; WHO Issues PHEIC, Calls for Adapted Nutrition Response

On 15 May 2026 the Democratic Republic of the Congo government, through its Ministry of Public Health, announced the 17th Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak after the National Biomedical Research Institute confirmed Bundibugyo‑virus cases. Two days later, the World Health Organization declared the flare‑up a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and issued temporary guidance to strengthen surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC) and to maintain essential health services. The outbreak concentrates in Ituri, North‑Kivu and South‑Kivu provinces, where movement restrictions, IPC measures and reduced health‑facility attendance threaten children under five and pregnant or lactating women from accessing malnutrition prevention, screening and treatment. In response, partners have released an orientation note to adapt nutrition interventions, following WHO 2023 guidelines that recommend keeping essential nutrition services operational in emergencies by modifying screening, monitoring and treatment methods while safeguarding beneficiaries and providers. The note urges community and family engagement to improve early detection and follow‑up of children at risk.