Key facts
- As of 27 May 2026, over 1 084 suspected cases, including 239 related deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC; Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu Provinces) and Uganda. A total of 121 confirmed cases have been reported from DRC and seven from Uganda (including three imported from DRC).
- Preliminary genomic analysis shows that the sequences are distinct 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 affected areas 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 the outbreak through epidemic intelligence activities and liaising with partners.
Overview
Update
As of 27 May 2026, the number of confirmed and suspected Ebola disease cases and deaths continues to increase in the two affected countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
According to the Ministry of Health of DRC on 26 May 2026 (data as of 26 May), over a total of 121 confirmed cases (including 17 deaths) and 1 077 suspected cases (including 238 deaths) in 13 regions in 3 provinces (Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu; Situation report of DRC, 26 May 2026). The confirmed cases have been reported from Ituri (110 confirmed cases; including at least four deaths), North Kivu (10 confirmed cases; including at least two deaths) and South Kivu provinces (one confirmed death). Of the confirmed deaths, 14 deaths were individuals over 15 years of age, while three were under 15.
Over 2 231 contacts have been identified as of 25 May with the proportion followed-up being approximately 20% as of the report on 24 May. The laboratory test positivity is currently 30.0% in DRC.
Bunia airport, DRC, has been temporarily closed (Ministry of transport and communication, 23 May, Ministère de la Santé RDC on X). Media sources have reported local protests and arson attacks targeting treatment centres from residents in DRC. Citizens reportedly burned two tents within a hospital section treating Ebola patients. Volunteers have been faced intimidation and threats from armed groups in Bunia.
According to the the Ministry of Health of Uganda and media, no new cases or deaths have been reported since the last CDTR update. A total of seven confirmed cases have been reported, including one death (MoH on X). Three of the cases are travel-related and five are contacts linked to the first two cases. Uganda has postponed a large religious event (Martyr's day) that normally takes place on 3 June and suspended cross-border transport activities (Government of Uganda on X: 21 May 2025).
According to various sources, exit screening and control measures have been implemented for travellers from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. The Rwandan Ministry of Health has reinforced health screening and vigilance at land points of entry along the border with DRC. Enhanced entry control measures have been implemented at Kigali International Airport for inbound travellers to Rwanda (Rwanda MoH, 22 May on X). Other countries, such as United States, Tunisia and Mauritius, have introduced entry restrictions and/or health screening protocols for individuals travelling from high-risk countries.
The United States has decided to establish a regional facility in Kenya to quarantine and treat exposed or infected US citizens locally rather than repatriating them to the US. The Government of Canada announced a temporary entry restriction from 27 May for residents of high-risk countries (the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan), which will remain in effect for 90 days. From 30 May, a 21-day quarantine period will be implemented for asymptomatic Canadian citizens and residents who travelled to high-risk areas in the previous 21 days. Control measures have also been planned in Thailand in effect from 27 May, which include a 21-day quarantine for travellers from the DRC and Uganda. The government of the Bahamas announced plans to perform enhanced public health screening and possible quarantine measures for foreign travellers arriving within 30 days of visiting the high-risk countries.
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 the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale of DRC identified Bundibugyo virus (Democratic Republic of the Congo confirms new Ebola outbreak, WHO scales up support | WHO AFRO, 15 May 2026).
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). However, the outbreak is likely to have started many weeks before considering the number of cases and the geographical spread.
The first confirmed cases reported in Uganda 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, an American citizen working in healthcare in the affected areas tested positive and was transfered to Germany with six high-risk contacts who were also to be transferred to Germany (US CDC Update on Ebola Outbreak, 18 May 2026, Serge News and Updates, 18 May 2026). Another contact was to be transferred to Czechia (US CDC Transcript -19 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). On 18 May 2026, Africa CDC declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (Africa CDC Declares the Ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security – Africa CDC, 18 May 2026).
This is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak reported in DRC. The most recent prior outbreak occurred 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; this outbreak was declared on 1 August 2018 following reporting of laboratory-confirmed cases in North Kivu Province. Investigation identified cases in Ituri and North Kivu with symptom onset from May 2018. The outbreak also spread 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).
Enhanced control and screening points have been activated by authorities in several countries to limit the risk of viral transmission. Exit screening has been implemented in DRC, Uganda and South Sudan. In DRC, points of entry (PoE) and points of control (PoC) have been activated in key locations, including at the airport (international travel screening), road checkpoints and towns or local transit points, such as Nizi (Ituri), Mudzibala (Bunia), Dele and Chai (Rwampara). The Rwandan Ministry of Health has reinforced health screening and vigilance at land points of entry along the border with DRC. Enhanced entry control measures have been implemented at Kigali International Airport for inbound travellers to Rwanda (Rwanda MoH, 22 May on X).
Entry restrictions and health screening protocols have been implemented for individuals travelling from high-risk countries in several countries, including African (Tunisia and Mauritius) and other countries (United States). Mexico issued a travel-advisory for individuals travelling to DRC and Uganda on 17 May.
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 affected areas 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. The likelihood of Bundibugyo virus affecting the substances of human origin donor population in the context of this outbreak is currently assessed as very low. This assessment will be reviewed as further information becomes available.
Exit screening in affected countries, including symptom checks and exposure assessment, is crucial as it contributes to risk reduction by identifying symptomatic travellers before boarding and preventing travel while symptomatic. Exit screening also helps dissuade ill people from travelling and enhance public and stakeholder confidence. However, it cannot fully prevent exportation of cases, because absence of symptoms at departure does not exclude subsequent onset of disease. ECDC considers that screening of returning travellers from affected areas (DRC, Uganda) would not be an effective measure to prevent introduction to Europe. This consideration is based on the lessons learned and results of the large EVD outbreak in West Africa between 2013 and 2016, where tens of thousands of cases were reported, transmission was ongoing in large urban centres, and hundreds of EU/EEA humanitarian and military personnel were deployed to the affected areas. Screening incoming travellers is time- and resource-consuming and will not effectively identify infected cases. Priority should instead be given to providing travellers with clear information on symptoms, routes of transmission, and what to do if symptoms develop after arrival in the EU/EEA.
Detailed assessment of the event can be found in the ECDC Threat Assessment Brief published on 21 May 2026 (Threat assessment brief: Ebola disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus – Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda – 2026).
Actions
ECDC is monitoring the outbreak through its epidemic intelligence activities to provide epidemiological updates, situational awareness and risk assessment for the EU/EEA.
On 19 May 2026, the EU Health Task Force, in collaboration with DG ECHO, DG INTPA and GOARN, deployed an ECDC expert to Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa.
ECDC is actively liaising with key partners, including Africa CDC, the European Commission and WHO to provide further support through the EU Health Task Force in response to this outbreak.
ECDC will be providing updates and re-evaluating the situation as new information becomes available. A threat assessment brief was published on 21 May 2026 (Threat assessment brief: Ebola disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus – Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda – 2026).
