A deadly Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus has swept through northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo since early May 2026, spreading across 18 health zones in Ituri Province before crossing the border into Uganda. As of June 9, DRC health authorities have confirmed 635 cases and 127 deaths, while Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two fatalities.
A Rare Strain Returns
The Bundibugyo virus — named for the district in Uganda where it was first identified in 2007 — is one of the less common Ebola species but carries a case fatality rate of around 25–35% in uncontrolled settings. The current outbreak, centered in Ituri Province's Mongbwalu and Rwampara health zones, represents the largest Bundibugyo virus event on record.
On May 17, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern — only the seventh such declaration in WHO's history. The move unlocked additional international funding and coordination mechanisms.
Why Containment Is Difficult
Ituri Province poses extreme challenges for outbreak response. Parts of the province remain under the influence of armed groups, limiting access for health workers and contact tracers. Community mistrust of formal health systems — partly a legacy of difficult experiences during previous Ebola responses in neighboring North Kivu — has slowed uptake of vaccination and isolation measures.
The proximity to Uganda, South Sudan, and Rwanda heightens cross-border transmission risk. As of early June, only Uganda has confirmed cases outside DRC, but health authorities in neighboring countries have activated border screening and ring vaccination programs.
The International Response
Dozens of organizations have deployed to northeastern DRC. Red Cross teams are operating through the Congolese Red Cross network, running community engagement and safe-burial training to reduce transmission at funerals — historically a major amplification point for Ebola. International Medical Corps has established Ebola Treatment Units and is supporting triage and isolation capacity at health facilities in Ituri. Direct Relief is supplying personal protective equipment and medications to frontline health workers, while Americares is focused on supporting overburdened clinics.
Save the Children, CARE, and Mercy Corps are coordinating psychosocial support for survivors and orphaned children, and providing food and water assistance to households under quarantine or isolation measures.
What You Can Do
The 2026 DRC Ebola Outbreak is classified as a critical, active emergency. Organizations on the ground urgently need unrestricted funding to scale contact tracing, ring vaccination, and community health worker deployments. Visit the disaster page to find verified donation links for organizations working in Ituri and across the organization directory.