Key facts
- Based on the available information as of 18 May 2026, 482 suspected cases including 116 related deaths have been reported in the the Democratic Republic of the Congo Bundibugyo virus was detected in 8 of 13 samples tested in DRC. Four deaths have been reported among confirmed cases. On Monday 17 May 2026, media quoting official sources reported that over 300 suspected cases have been reported including 91 deaths.
- On 15 May 2026, Uganda also reported a confirmed case who later died with links to DRC. A second case in Uganda also with links to DRC was reported on 17 May 2026.
- Preliminary genomic analysis shows distinct sequences from the 2007 and 2012 Bundibugyo virus outbreaks.
- On 17 May 2026, WHO declared that the Ebola disease outbreak due to Bundibugyo virus constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and on 18 May 2026 Africa CDC declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.
- Considering all the available information and uncertainties about this outbreak, the likelihood of infection for people from the EU/EEA living in or travelling to Ituri is estimated to be low. For people living in the EU/EEA, the likelihood of infection is estimated to be very low, given the very low likelihood of importation and secondary transmission. This assessment will be reviewed as further information becomes available.
- ECDC is monitoring through epidemic intelligence activities and liaising with partners.
Overview
Update
Overall, as of 18 May 2026, 482 suspected cases and 116 related deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (OCHA News 18 May 2026). Most cases have been reported in Ituri Province, DRC. One case was reported today in Goma, North Kivu Province (media quoting official authorities, OCHA News 18 May 2026).
The US have reported that an American citizen exposed in healthcare setting is a confirmed case. The case and six high risk contacts are to be transferred to Germany (US CDC Update on Ebola Outbreak, 18 May 2026, Serge News and Updates, 18 May 2026).
Genomes from DRC and Uganda have been published and preliminary analysis shows distinct sequences from the previous outbreaks (Virological Ebolavirus/Bundibugyo ebolavirus, 18 May 2026).
Summary
On 15 May 2026, Africa CDC reported an outbreak of Ebola disease in Ituri Province, DRC (Africa CDC Calls Urgent Regional Coordination Meeting Following Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Ituri, 15 May 2026, Africa CDC Special Briefing on Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Status, 16 May 2026). Laboratory analysis at Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale of DRC identified Bundibugyo virus and it was reported that 8 of 13 samples were positive (Democratic Republic of the Congo confirms new Ebola outbreak, WHO scales up support | WHO AFRO, 15 May 2026). As of 18 May 2026, there were 482 suspected cases and 116 suspected deaths. Cases have been reported from at least three health zones (Bunia, Mongwalu, Rwampara) including four deaths among confirmed cases. Clusters of community deaths have been reported including deaths among healthcare workers in DRC (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, 17 May 2026, Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo (The) & Uganda)
The Ministry of Health of DRC reported that the index case is a nurse (age unknown) who died in a healthcare facility in Bunia (capital of Ituri Province). The case presented with fever, bleeding, vomiting and weakness (Ministère de la Santé RDC Declaration of Ebola Outbreak 15 May 2025).
On 17 May 2026 a case was also reported in Goma, North Kivu (neighbouring province to Ituri) (BBC News item, 17 May 2026).
Besides DRC, Uganda reported two cases of confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease. According to the reports the cases had travel links to DRC. The first patient reported in Uganda was under treatment in Uganda and later died (Democratic Republic of the Congo confirms new Ebola outbreak, WHO scales up support | WHO AFRO, 15 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, 17 May 2026).
On 18 May 2026, a confirmed case was reported in a US citizen working in healthcare in affected areas. The case and six high risk contacts are to be transferred to Germany (US CDC Update on Ebola Outbreak, 18 May 2026, Serge News and Updates, 18 May 2026).
Genomes from DRC and Uganda have been published and preliminary analysis shows distinct sequences from the previous outbreaks (Virological Ebolavirus/Bundibugyo ebolavirus, 18 May 2026).
Information regarding transmission chains and affected population groups is currently limited, partly due to the complex context of ongoing insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the affected areas. According to WHO, neighbouring countries sharing land borders with DRC are considered at high risk for further spread due to population mobility, trade and travel links, and uncertainty about the transmission chains. The outbreak may also be larger than currently detected. There are also concerns related to this outbreak because it is caused by Bundibugyo virus rather than the more commonly detected Zaire ebolavirus. Unlike for Zaire ebolavirus, there are currently no licensed vaccines or specific treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease.
Considering the available information, complicated context and the uncertainties on the epidemiological information WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 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, 17 May 2026).
This is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak reported in DRC. The most recent prior outbreak in 2025 in Kasai Province due to Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense) (WHO DON Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo, 5 September 2025). In Ituri Province specifically, Ebola disease due to Ebola virus (Orthoebolavirus zairense) was last documented during the 2018-2020 outbreak. The 2018-2020 outbreak was declared on 1 August 2018 following reporting of laboratory confirmed cases in North Kivu Province and investigation identified cases in Ituri and North Kivu with symptom onset from May 2018. The outbreak spread also to South Kivu. Between 1 August 2018 and 25 June 2020 when the outbreak was declared over, a total of 3 470 cases were reported including 3 317 confirmed and 153 probable. At the time WHO had declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (Disease Outbreak News Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo, 26 June 2020, Medical countermeasures during the 2018 Ebola virus disease outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a rapid genomic assessment - ScienceDirect).
Bundibugyo virus was first reported in 2007 in Bundibugyo district in Uganda during an outbreak. The most recent outbreak due to Bundibugyo virus was in 2012 in DRC (Uganda: Ebola outbreak press statement - 20 Dec 2007 - Uganda | ReliefWeb, WHO | Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo, 12 August 2012).
ECDC assessment
Due to the very recent declaration of the outbreak and the uncertainties related to the epidemiological information, it is probable that the outbreak is much larger than what is currently being reported, not only in regards to the number of affected cases, but also to its geographical extent.
Considering all the available information and uncertainties about this outbreak, the likelihood of infection for people from the EU/EEA living in or travelling to Ituri is estimated to be low. For people living in the EU/EEA, the likelihood of infection is estimated to be very low, given the very low likelihood of importation and secondary transmission. This assessment will be reviewed as further information becomes available.
Actions
ECDC is monitoring the outbreak through its epidemic intelligence activities to provide epidemiological updates, situational awareness and assess the risk for the EU/EEA.
ECDC is actively liaising with key partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Commission, and WHO to provide support through the EUHTF in the response to this outbreak. ECDC is deploying an expert from the EU Health Task Force to Africa CDC’s headquarters to support coordination and operational planning.
ECDC will be providing updates and re-evaluate the situation based on the available information.