GENEVA — Health authorities have reported a new Ebola outbreak in Central Africa centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with cases also confirmed in Uganda, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, 2026.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, was first identified in Ituri Province in eastern DRC in early May. As of early June, DRC authorities reported hundreds of confirmed cases and associated deaths, while Uganda has recorded a smaller number of cases linked to cross-border movement, according to WHO and national health ministry updates.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the decision to declare the emergency reflected concerns over the scale and speed of the outbreak, cross-border spread and challenges in the response. “I did not do this lightly. I'm deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic,” he stated during a briefing.
The Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccines or specific treatments, unlike some other Ebola strains, complicating containment efforts. The outbreak began in a hospital cluster in Bunia Health Zone, affecting healthcare workers, and has spread across multiple health zones in Ituri Province, with some cases reported farther afield including in Kinshasa.
Response efforts include contact tracing, isolation of cases and community engagement, but are hampered by insecurity, displacement and logistical challenges in the remote, densely populated region, officials said. International partners including the CDC and Africa CDC are supporting local authorities.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated materials. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash and internal bleeding in severe cases. The average fatality rate for Ebola is around 50 percent, though it varies by strain and access to care.
This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC. Previous outbreaks have been contained through rapid response, but the current one has raised alarms due to its initial undetected spread and the lack of specific countermeasures for Bundibugyo virus.
Neighboring countries have heightened surveillance and preparedness measures. No cases have been confirmed outside the region as of the latest reports.
As of June 8, 2026, investigations and response operations continued, with WHO coordinating international assistance. Further updates on case numbers and containment progress were expected in coming days from national authorities and the WHO. Details on additional funding commitments remained under discussion.
