What you need to know about the Ebola outbreak

What you need to know about the Ebola outbreak

From In Focus by The Hindu by The Hindu

June 4, 2026 · 22 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, its implications, and the response to it.

If it’s not one infectious disease, then it’s another. This month, the world was rocked with reports of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. On May 16, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC). So far, there have been 344 confirmed Ebola cases including 60 deaths in DRC, and 15 confirmed cases including one death in neighbouring Uganda. This time around, the outbreak has been caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. What is Ebola and why is there a high degree of concern about it? Do we have vaccines to treat Ebola? How concerned should India be, and what do we need to know as individuals? Guest: Dr. George M. Varghese, professor, infectious diseases, Christian Medical College, Vellore Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Zubeda Hamid

Guest: Dr. George M. Varghese

Topics covered

  • Ebola outbreak
  • public health
  • infectious diseases
  • vaccines
  • health emergency
  • India

Keywords

  • Ebola
  • outbreak
  • public health emergency
  • WHO
  • vaccines
  • infectious diseases
  • Bundibugyo strain
  • India

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: World Health Organization

Places: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda

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