OutbreakWatch
Outbreaks
de
English Italiano Español Français Deutsch العربية 中文
active Ebola Started May 15, 2026

Ebola Bundibugyo 2026 — DRC & Uganda PHEIC Outbreak Tracker

Bundibugyo ebolavirus PHEIC outbreak spanning the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ituri province) and Uganda since 15 May 2026. WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 18 May 2026. Latest WHO situation report: 676 total reported cases across both countries; 132 deaths recorded; 668 contacts identified (541 in DRC, 127 in Uganda). No WHO-approved vaccine or monoclonal antibody therapy exists for the Bundibugyo strain — Ervebo and current mAb therapies cover only Zaire ebolavirus. Three Ebola treatment centers are operational in Ituri. Contact tracing ongoing in South Sudan, South Africa, Germany and the United States. OutbreakWatch syncs counts every 2h from WHO, Africa CDC, CDC, ECDC and ProMED.

Confirmed cases
2
Suspected
674
Deaths
132
20% case fatality
Countries affected
3
Tracing in 4

Geographic spread

Timeline

Most recent first. Curated milestones plus live news from around 50 sources, deduplicated.

  1. Jun 20, 2026
    WHO situation report: 676 total reported cases — DRC and Uganda

    The latest WHO situation report records 676 reported cases across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda since outbreak onset on 15 May 2026. The PHEIC status remains active. Three dedicated Ebola treatment centers continue operating in Ituri province, DRC. Regional contact tracing is ongoing in South Sudan, South Africa, Germany and the United States. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or monoclonal antibody therapy.

    Source →
  2. May 19, 2026
    Death toll updated to 131 (Adnkronos/Africa CDC); South Sudan spread confirmed

    Italian newswire Adnkronos reports the DRC Ebola death toll has risen to 131. AP Health corroborates with 'nearly 120'; Politico reports 'more than 110'. South Sudan confirms cross-border spread and is added to the affected-country list. South Africa and Germany have initiated contact tracing for returning travelers.

    Source →
  3. May 18, 2026
    WHO declares Bundibugyo Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

    The World Health Organization Emergency Committee convened and declared the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak across DRC and Uganda a PHEIC — one of the highest-level global health alerts. PAHO confirmed the Bundibugyo strain identification. No vaccine or mAb therapy approved for this strain. US CDC restricts entry from affected countries; US State Department issues Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory for DRC. NYT, Washington Post, BBC, Bloomberg, Le Figaro and Euronews provide global coverage.

    Source →
  4. May 18, 2026
    WHO Situation Report: 528 cases, 132 deaths, 3 treatment centers opened in Ituri

    Per WHO Situation Report dated 18 May 2026: 528 reported cases across DRC and Uganda (2 lab-confirmed in Uganda, 526 under investigation), 132 deaths, 668 contacts identified (541 in DRC, 127 in Uganda). DRC opens three Ebola treatment centers in Ituri province. South African President Ramaphosa issues a statement on cross-border risk.

    Source →
  5. May 15, 2026
    Outbreak onset — Bundibugyo ebolavirus detected in DRC Ituri province

    First clinical cases attributed to Bundibugyo ebolavirus identified in DRC's Ituri province. Worldwide search interest for 'ebola' rises approximately 10× baseline over 48 hours (Google Trends). Polymarket 'Ebola pandemic in 2026' market sees $34k of 24-hour volume on a $40k open interest.

    Source →

Key facts

  • Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain confirmed by PAHO — NO approved vaccine or monoclonal antibody therapy exists (Ervebo and mAb therapies cover Zaire ebolavirus only, not Bundibugyo).
  • WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 18 May 2026 — one of the highest-level global health alerts issued by the UN health agency.
  • Latest WHO situation report: 676 total reported cases across DRC (Ituri province) and Uganda, with 132 deaths and 668 contacts identified.
  • DRC has opened three dedicated Ebola treatment centers in Ituri province to isolate cases and reduce community transmission.
  • South Sudan has confirmed cross-border spread. South Africa, Germany and the United States are conducting active contact tracing for returning travelers. US CDC restricts entry from affected countries.
  • US State Department issued a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Bundibugyo ebolavirus has a historical case fatality rate of approximately 25–40%, significantly lower than the Zaire strain (up to 90%).
  • Ebola is NOT airborne. Transmission requires direct contact with blood or body fluids of a symptomatic or deceased person, or contaminated materials.
  • Incubation period: 2–21 days. People are NOT contagious until they develop symptoms.
  • Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the suspected natural reservoir host for all Ebola species.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Ebola virus mortality rate in the 2026 outbreak? ⌄
Ebola virus disease has a historical case-fatality rate of 25-90% depending on strain, with Bundibugyo ebolavirus — the strain driving the active 2026 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda — historically around 25-40%. Per the WHO Situation Report of 18 May 2026, the outbreak had recorded 528 reported cases (2 lab-confirmed in Uganda, 526 under investigation) and 132 deaths, with 668 contacts identified. No vaccine or monoclonal antibody therapy is currently approved for the Bundibugyo strain, unlike Zaire ebolavirus which has Ervebo and two approved antibody treatments. WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 18 May 2026.
Open page →
What are the first symptoms of Ebola? ⌄
The first symptoms of Ebola virus disease appear 2-21 days after exposure (typically 8-10 days) and include abrupt high fever (≥38.6°C/101.5°F), intense headache, severe muscle pain, extreme fatigue, sore throat, and loss of appetite. By days 3-7 a gastrointestinal phase follows, with profuse watery diarrhoea (up to 10 L/day in severe cases), vomiting, abdominal pain, and hiccups. In roughly half of severe cases, a haemorrhagic phase develops around days 5-10 — bleeding from injection sites and mucosal surfaces, and a non-itchy rash on the trunk by day 5-7. A person is not contagious until symptoms begin.
Open page →
How does Ebola spread from person to person? ⌄
Ebola is NOT airborne. Human-to-human transmission requires direct contact with the blood or body fluids (saliva, vomit, urine, feces, breast milk, semen) of a symptomatic or deceased infected person, or with surfaces and objects contaminated by those fluids. Traditional burial practices involving contact with the deceased are a well-documented transmission route, as is nosocomial spread in healthcare settings lacking adequate infection control. The virus can also persist in semen for months after recovery, making sexual transmission possible. Animal-to-human spillover is believed to originate from fruit bats (Pteropodidae) and infected non-human primates.
Open page →
Is there a vaccine or cure for Ebola? ⌄
For Zaire ebolavirus, yes: Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV-GP, Merck) has been FDA/EMA-approved since 2019 and is used in ring vaccination during outbreak response, and two monoclonal antibody therapies — Ebanga (mAb114) and Inmazeb (REGN-EB3) — are FDA-approved and reduce mortality when given early. Sudan ebolavirus vaccine candidates are in advanced trials but not yet WHO-prequalified. Critically, the active 2026 outbreak in the DRC and Uganda is caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which no vaccine or monoclonal antibody therapy is currently approved — treatment there relies on supportive intensive care (fluids, electrolyte balance, oxygen, blood pressure support).
Open page →
What is Ebola virus disease? ⌄
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness caused by viruses of the Ebolavirus genus (family Filoviridae). Six species are known — Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo, Taï Forest, Reston, and Bombali ebolavirus — with case-fatality rates historically ranging 25-90% depending on strain and access to care. The natural reservoir is believed to be fruit bats (Pteropodidae); spillover to humans occurs via contact with infected wildlife, then spreads human-to-human through direct contact with blood or body fluids. The active 2026 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, declared a WHO Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 18 May 2026, is caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which no vaccine or monoclonal antibody therapy is currently approved.
Open page →

Sources