Ebola Outbreak Reported in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The outbreak so far consists of 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths.

May 18, 2026

Key Highlights

The outbreak involves the non-Zaire Ebola strain, specifically the Bundibugyo variant, which lacks licensed vaccines or treatments.
Dense urban populations, mining activities, and refugee movements increase the risk of further Ebola transmission in the region.
International health agencies are coordinating efforts, with WHO and UNICEF attending a regional meeting to address containment and response strategies.
Current vaccines target only the Zaire strain, underscoring the need for developing vaccines for other Ebola strains like Bundibugyo.
Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids, causing severe symptoms including fever, bleeding, and organ failure, making containment critical.

Africa CDC has reported 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths tied with a new outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). CIDRAP has the news.

Lab results suggest a “non-Zaire ebolavirus, which has been the leading cause of Ebola outbreaks over the past 20 years.” This outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, and it is centered in Ituri province, which borders Uganda and South Sudan. Africa CDC officials say they are “concerned about the potential for further spread because of dense urban populations in Rwampara and Bunia, population movement related to mining activity in Mongwalu, and refugee movement caused by ongoing conflicts in the region.”

Ebola is “highly contagious and spreads through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected sick or dead person. The virus causes severe disease that starts with fever, aches, and fatigue and progresses to diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding.”

Experts from WHO and UNICEF along with health officials from around the world will attend a meeting with health officials from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. There are currently two licensed vaccines, but both of those target the Zaire strain; there are no licensed vaccines or treatments for Bundibugyo ebolavirus.