On 5 May 2026, World Health Organization (WHO) received reports of an outbreak of an unknown disease in Mongbwalu Health Zone, Ituri Province, in the Democratic republic of Congo causing high mortality, including among health workers. These patients showed symptoms common in Ebola viruses. Ten days later on 15 May scientists at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa confirmed that 13 blood samples were positive for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD).
Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease is a very rare and severe variant of Ebola virus disease, also known as viral haemorrhagic fever. It is a zoonotic disease ,with fruit bats suspected to be the natural reservoir. Human infection is attributed to direct exposure to blood or other body fluids from infected wild animals (such as bats or non-human primates) and then to direct contact with the blood, other body fluids, organs or contaminated surfaces or items from infected humans. A vaccine or specific therapeutics for Bundibugyo virus is not available. The Virus therefore presents a significant threat to the potential widespread international spread.
In response to the outbreak, the DRC Ministry of Public Health declared an Ebola outbreak on May 15. By the next day there were confirmed cases of BVD in Kampala, the capital of neighboring country Uganda. They were attributed to travel from the Congo into Uganda. On May 17, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The highest alert given by WHO, it seeks coordinated international funding and response mechanisms.
As of June 17 the DRC’s total number of confirmed cases was 837 and the total number of confirmed deaths was 196, with sixteen health workers confirmed infected. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) reported that the health care workers in DRC were reporting shortages in PPE and testing kits leading to high points of exposure to the disease.
There are a number of problems that are slowing down the response to the outbreak. In eastern DRC conflict amongst various militant and ethnic groups is an obstacle in providing medical care. Large amounts of the population in disease stricken regions such as Ituri are displaced. Estimates put the number of displaced populations at over 990,000.
Out of a $319 million response budget, $2,87 million still remains unsecured. With the cutting of USAID by the Trump administration and the exit of the United States from the WHO, raising funding still remains to be a big issue in combating the epidemic.
There have also been multiple instances of people not cooperating with health workers and clashing with police and authorities over the deceased bodies of family members. Multiple suspected Ebola patients have run away from their medical centers where they were kept for observation.
Eastern DRC borders 9 countries and is a crossroads of trade, mining and industry. The region also has frequent movement of refugees due to various conflicts leading to a high risk of transmission that might affect trade and commerce around the world. Unlike Mongbwalu , Kampala is a capital city. The international airport in Kampala has routes to other parts of Africa along with several intercontinental destinations. Transmission could soon leave Africa and trouble the rest of the world.
The DRC has successfully contained Ebola outbreaks before. There are numerous international organizations and institutions set in place to fight back against the virus. At the forefront of response is the development of a vaccine. The coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced funding to fast track 3 vaccine candidates that can counter BVD. The vaccines are being developed by IAVI, Moderna and the University of Oxford. According to health officials the outbreak needs to be fought on a global level with various nations providing financial, logistical and medical support. The next few months are critical in the fight against the outbreak and is a test of not only DRC’s medical safeguards but the world’s.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
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