21 May 2026; The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) officially declared an Ebola disease outbreak on 15 May in Ituri province, in the country’s northeast. On 17 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern. The next day, the Africa CDC declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). So far, according to the DRC Ministry of Health, there are 536 suspected cases and 134 deaths. This marks the 17th recorded outbreak of Ebola disease in DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976.
Unlike most previous Ebola disease outbreaks that occurred in the DRC, this one is caused by Bundibugyo virus. “Ebola disease” is a disease caused by any virus within the genus of Orthoebolavirus. The most commonly known viruses within this genus are Ebola virus, Sudan virus and the Bundibugyo virus.
In the two previous known outbreaks of Bundibugyo virus disease, the case fatality rate was lower than outbreaks caused by the more common and deadly Ebola virus. Yet, responding to this virus is particularly challenging as there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments available, unlike for the more common Ebola virus. Diagnostics are also challenging. The PCR tests used for diagnosis require test kits specific not to the disease itself, but to each individual virus in order to detect it. However, these test kits are currently in short supply for the Bundibugyo virus, which significantly slows down case confirmation and, consequently, the implementation of contact tracing and patient isolation.
The outbreak was first identified following alerts of an unusual increase in deaths linked to a suspected viral haemorrhagic fever in Mongwalu health zone, northwest of Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), MSF assessments conducted in affected areas found dozens of deaths had occurred since April, with suspected and confirmed cases also reported in Bunia and Rwampara health zones. Over the past few days, the outbreak has spread far further in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.
Two cases have also been confirmed in Uganda, the first one being the case of a Congolese man who was admitted in a Kampala hospital on 11 May and who died on 14 May. Both cases were imported from DRC. On 15 May, the MoH of Uganda declared the Ebola disease outbreak.
MSF has a vast experience in supporting Ebola disease outbreaks responses. Our teams are preparing to rapidly scale up medical and operational support in affected areas alongside the Ministry of Health, WHO and local actors to strengthen surveillance, patient care, infection prevention and control, and community engagement efforts aimed at containing the outbreak as quickly as possible.
As of 20 May, the DRC had officially reported a total of 536 suspected cases and 134 suspected deaths, 34 confirmed cases and 8 confirmed deaths.
In DRC, the outbreak is now affecting two provinces, with Ituri remaining the main epicentre. Several cases have been confirmed in North Kivu province, including in the capital city of Goma.
As stated by several officials and health experts from the DRC and WHO, those figures need to be taken with caution as under-reporting very likely in the current situation.
Two laboratory confirmed cases, including one death, with no apparent link to each other have also been reported in Kampala, Uganda, within 24 hours of each other, on 15 and 16 May. Both are imported cases.
Key Points:
- The extent, the nature and the context of this Ebola disease outbreak are very concerning. Dealing with this outbreak is difficult as it involves a particular virus which does not benefit from approved treatments nor vaccines, while diagnostics will also be of particular concern. The real extent of the outbreak remains unknown due to the lack of diagnostics and underreporting of cases.
- While this virus is less lethal than the two others (Ebola and Sudan), it nevertheless presents a major challenge in containing the outbreak. In addition, this outbreak is happening in provinces affected by ongoing conflict, with millions of people displaced from their homes and people moving across borders into neighbouring countries such as Uganda. Both Ituri and North Kivu Provinces are marked by significant population movement and limited, under resourced health capacity, further complicating the identification, follow up and isolation of cases.
- Responding to this Ebola disease outbreak will present several challenges and will require all stakeholders to design an approach adapted to Bundibugyo’s specific context. However, our previous experience in Ebola responses has shown that multiple factors significantly influence the epidemiological trend of the disease. Addressing these elements is essential to effectively contain the outbreak. These include, among others, strong contact tracing, timely isolation of suspected cases, community trust and engagement, rigorous infection prevention and control measures, effective health promotion, and rapid access to healthcare services — including care for non-Ebola conditions. One lesson we've learned from past Ebola disease outbreaks is that we need to ensure access to regular healthcare – such as treatment for malaria, measles vaccinations, and sexual and reproductive healthcare. Ebola responses are based on six pillars (care and isolation of patients; tracing and follow up of patient contacts; raising community awareness of the disease such as how to prevent it and where to seek care; conducting safe burials; proactively detecting new cases; and supporting existing health structures) and we are in discussion with the health authorities to see where our support will be the most impactful.
- Local and international expertise to fight such outbreaks already exists. The DRC has faced 16 Ebola disease outbreaks since 1976 and has developed significant expertise and experience in responding to this disease over the years. Congolese health authorities, local healthcare workers, researchers, and communities have been at the forefront of some of the world’s most complex Ebola responses, often under extremely difficult circumstances. It is important to recognise that the DRC is not starting from zero.
- MSF has a vast experience in responding to Ebola disease outbreaks and is mobilising a large-scale response to support and in collaboration with DRC authorities. We have been an active partner in the response in many of these, including the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak of 2012, as well as the one in Uganda in 2007. Our teams are working around the clock to prepare a large-scale response in DRC, in collaboration with the Congolese health authorities. We are currently deploying medical and logistics emergency staff. Essential medical supplies and equipment are currently en route to affected areas from Kinshasa, Uganda and Europe.
MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au