An Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has killed over 100 people out of 550 confirmed cases. The response is severely hampered by armed conflict, which limits humanitarian access, and over 500 attacks on health workers. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, the outbreak's spread is exacerbated by mass displacement and difficulties in contact tracing.
Eastern Congo Ebola outbreak
- ▪The Ebola outbreak is concentrated in the eastern DRC provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, with Ituri accounting for over 90% of cases
- ▪The Ebola death toll in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached 101, with 550 total confirmed cases and 19 recoveries
- ▪The Democratic Republic of Congo's 17th Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, though it had gone undetected for weeks
- ▪In mid-May 2026, the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency
- ▪Neighboring Uganda has recorded 19 Ebola cases and two deaths, primarily among Congolese nationals who crossed the border
Bundibugyo virus strain challenges
- ▪The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain
- ▪There is no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo Ebola strain, unlike the more common Zaire strain
- ▪Two potential vaccine candidates for the Bundibugyo Ebola strain are not yet ready for human trials
Health worker attacks
- ▪In Bunia, a burial team was attacked at the Nyamurongo cemetery, leaving two people seriously injured and two vehicles damaged
- ▪Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, over 520 incidents impacting the work of health professionals have been reported
- ▪Efforts to stop the Ebola outbreak are challenged by attacks on health workers, community skepticism, and disregard for health protocols
Armed conflict disruption
- ▪The presence of more than 120 armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is limiting humanitarian access to affected health zones
- ▪The World Health Organization stated that armed conflict is disrupting surveillance and response activities, increasing the risk of undetected transmission
Displacement hindering contact tracing
- ▪Contact tracing is also complicated by thousands of artisanal miners who regularly move between remote sites in the mineral-rich region
- ▪The contact tracing coverage rate for the Ebola outbreak is at 64%, and the total number of cases is believed to be higher than reported
- ▪Conflict in Ituri province has displaced nearly a million people, making contact tracing for the Ebola outbreak difficult
Kenya US quarantine facility controversy
- ▪A Kenyan court suspended construction of the proposed U.S. Ebola quarantine facility and barred the arrival of any foreign patients
- ▪The United States plans to build a 50-bed Ebola quarantine center at Laikipia Air Base in Kenya for Americans exposed to the virus abroad
- ▪On June 9, 2026, Kenyan police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Nanyuki opposing the planned U.S. Ebola quarantine center
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