The World Health Organization has added the first molecular diagnostic test for Bundibugyo virus disease to its Emergency Use Listing (EUL), marking a critical step in strengthening the global response to one of the most severe Ebola outbreaks on record.

 

The listing covers the first test capable of detecting Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease by identifying its genetic material in blood samples—enabling faster, more accurate confirmation of infection during active outbreaks.

 

The EUL pathway is designed to speed access to essential medical products in emergencies while ensuring they meet minimum international standards for quality, safety, and performance. It also guides procurement decisions by UN agencies and national governments, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where rapid access can be most constrained.

 

"Public health emergencies require not only speed, but also confidence that the health products being used meet standards for quality, safety and performance," said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, Access and Data. 

 

"During a fast-moving outbreak, timely access to quality-assured diagnostic tests can make a critical difference in containing transmission. Through this Emergency Use Listing, WHO is helping countries access trusted diagnostic tools more rapidly so that they can respond more effectively.”

 

The move comes amid a widening outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. On 17 May 2026, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as cases surged.

 

Since then, the outbreak has grown into the largest recorded epidemic of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, with 1,406 laboratory-confirmed cases and 438 deaths reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone.

 

Response capacity has expanded rapidly with support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Laboratory testing capability has increased from a small number of national reference sites—handling roughly 200–400 tests per day—to a network of 10 laboratories across affected provinces, now capable of processing more than 2,000 tests daily.

 

WHO says rapid, reliable diagnosis remains central to controlling the outbreak—allowing earlier case detection, faster treatment, and stronger interruption of transmission chains.