WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus provided an update on pressing global health emergencies on July 2, 2026, emphasizing the critical need for international cooperation in managing outbreaks such as hantavirus, Ebola, and Marburg.

The global hantavirus outbreak is officially over. The final contact exposed on the cruise ship MV Hondius completed quarantine, tested negative, and returned home, with no new cases reported since May 25. The total hantavirus cases remain at 13, including three deaths, with over 650 contacts monitored across 33 countries and territories.

Meanwhile, Ebola outbreaks are intensifying in Africa. As of the report, 1,406 Ebola cases have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with 438 deaths. The outbreak continues to expand, averaging 38 new confirmed cases daily over the past two weeks. In Uganda, no new Ebola cases have been reported since June 21.

The response efforts in the DRC have been strengthened under government leadership, including the expansion of testing capacity to 10 laboratories closer to affected communities, alongside improved contact tracing and treatment capabilities. However, significant challenges remain, including mistrust and violence. Notably, an Ebola treatment center in Ituri province was attacked and set ablaze this week, resulting in two deaths and patients fleeing.

Tedros underscored that these outbreaks demonstrate why no country can manage such international health threats alone and highlighted the upcoming negotiations among WHO Member States on the pathogen access and benefit sharing system under the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

Additionally, Tedros drew attention to the impact of social media and digital environments on young people's health, stating these environments "are not neutral" and their design, governance, and monetization influence many aspects of life, including health.

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