Rare Ebola strain spreads in Africa, prompting global emergency

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Experts are concerned about a rare and deadly strain of Ebola spreading in Africa that's prompted officials to to declare a global health emergency. At least six Americans have been exposed already. CBS's Tina Kraus has more.

[00:00:14]Medics on the front lines in the Democratic Republic of Congo are racing to stop a fast-moving Ebola outbreak that has now spread to neighboring Uganda.

[00:00:24]Health teams are scrambling to contain the strain that has no approved treatment or vaccine. At least six Americans in Africa have been exposed with one showing symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control is working to support them. The risk to Americans right now is very low. Ebola is not something that spreads through the air.

[00:00:43]You have to have direct contact with somebody, their bodily fluids. But at the same time, if we allow this to spread uncontained, that does start to pose risk. The rare form of Ebola is called the Bundibugyo strain, only the third known outbreak with a fatality rate that can reach up to 50%.

[00:01:01]It has hit one of the world's poorest regions where many don't have access to basic health care. These are really hard to reach areas, mining towns on borders, really vulnerable communities. Since Friday, the number of suspected deaths has more than doubled to over 80, and hundreds more cases are suspected.

[00:01:19]Global health experts are warning the Trump administration's cuts to USAID and withdrawal from the World Health Organization could make it harder to respond and contain the virus. Tina Kraus, CBS News, London.

[00:01:34]The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak does not meet the criteria of a pandemic level threat like COVID did. The agency instead is calling it an extraordinary event. It's the second highest alert level.