Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda

What is known so far

On May 23, 2026, the CDC reported on enhanced Ebola airport screenings in Atlanta [CDC]. On May 27, 2026, the ECDC increased its activities as the Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo and Uganda intensified, emphasizing that the risk of infection to the general population in Europe remains very low [ECDC]. On May 28, 2026, WHO reported the rapid increase in confirmed and suspected cases in the DR Congo, with a total of 134 confirmed cases, including 18 deaths [WHO]. On May 29, 2026, WHO reported that 125 confirmed cases and 906 suspected cases had been reported in the DR Congo, with most cases concentrated in Ituri Province [WHO]. On May 31, 2026, the Government of the DR Congo and WHO issued a joint statement regarding the outbreak [WHO]. On June 1, 2026, BBC reported on the development of three Ebola vaccines amid growing outbreak fears [BBC]. On June 3, 2026, ECDC provided information on the Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo and Uganda, referencing WHO's declaration of May 17, 2026, which classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern [ECDC]. On June 5, 2026, Africa CDC and WHO launched a joint continental Ebola response plan [WHO].

Pathogen: Bundibugyo virus

The pathogen is the Bundibugyo strain of ebolavirus — a rare species first identified in western Uganda in 2007. Unlike the Zaire strain (for which a licensed vaccine and monoclonal-antibody therapeutics are available), WHO states that no Bundibugyo-specific therapeutics or vaccines are currently approved. Ebolaviruses are typically transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, contaminated surfaces, or infected animals; airborne human-to-human transmission is not well established, and contact-and-droplet precautions are considered effective in clinical settings. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 21 days after exposure, beginning with fever and general illness, and can progress to severe, often fatal haemorrhagic disease.

Travel and exposure risk

WHO advises that contacts or cases of Bundibugyo virus disease should not travel internationally unless it is part of an appropriate medical evacuation. Because the hotspots are partly urban (Bunia, Kinshasa, Kampala) and semi-urban, and because the region sees high population mobility, WHO and Africa CDC consider the risk of cross-border spread to be high. For travellers without direct contact to ill people or to funerary or healthcare settings in the affected health zones, individual risk based on current knowledge remains low. Anyone returning from affected regions who develops symptoms — fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or unusual bleeding — within 21 days should self-isolate and contact a health authority or clinic by phone without visiting in person unprotected.

Official response

WHO is coordinating the response with the national health authorities of DR Congo and Uganda, with Africa CDC and with neighbouring-country authorities; contact tracing, surveillance, risk communication and infection prevention are being scaled up in the affected health zones. Africa CDC additionally cites ongoing insecurity in the region, gaps in contact listing, infection-prevention challenges and the proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan as compounding risk factors. Because no approved vaccine or Bundibugyo-specific therapeutic is available, the response focuses on classical outbreak control, supportive clinical care and on studies of platform-spanning therapeutic candidates.

What we don't track

InfectRisk tracks respiratory infections — influenza, COVID, RSV — in 36 countries, based on national surveillance systems. Ebola is a haemorrhagic disease and is outside our app data stream; the authoritative sources are WHO and Africa CDC. This page consolidates the official notifications and their assessment; it is not medical advice. In case of suspected exposure or symptoms, contact your public-health authority or a clinic by phone.

Sources

• Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus — Global (WHO DON)
  WHO · 2026-DON605 · Published 29 May 2026
• Update on Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, 6/5/2026
  CDC · Published 05 June 2026
• Fall in official Ebola numbers appears to be good news but it's not that simple
  BBC · Published 05 June 2026
• Africa CDC and WHO launch joint continental Ebola response plan
  WHO · 7fcf64d7-0d62-4ce3-9589-cf46e9d02e13 · Published 05 June 2026
• Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
  ECDC · Published 03 June 2026
• Three Ebola vaccines in development amid growing outbreak fears
  BBC · Published 01 June 2026
• Joint statement by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and WHO concerning the outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus
  WHO · 3254ae1a-f0ed-4033-b0f3-8eca1b8945dd · Published 31 May 2026
• Communicable disease threats report, 23-29 May 2026, Week 22
  ECDC · Published 29 May 2026
• Experts convened by WHO advise on candidate treatments and vaccines for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus
  WHO · b6439fef-5fb9-4f3c-b3aa-66de68ef2281 · Published 28 May 2026
• ECDC increases activities as Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda intensifies
  ECDC · Published 27 May 2026
• Enhanced Ebola Airport Screening Expands to Atlanta
  CDC · Published 23 May 2026
• Epidemic of Ebola Disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda determined a public health emergency of international concern
  WHO · Published 17 May 2026
• Democratic Republic of the Congo confirms new Ebola outbreak, WHO scales up support (WHO Regional Office for Africa)
  WHO · Published 15 May 2026
• Africa CDC Calls for Urgent Regional Coordination Following Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Ituri Province, DRC, and Imported Ebola Bundibugyo Case Reported by Uganda
  Africa CDC · Published 15 May 2026
• Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda (ECDC threat assessment, rolling update)
  ECDC · Published 26 May 2026