A rare Bundibugyo species with no vaccine. A conflict zone with no peace. How the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC became an international emergency in twelve days.
WHO is alerted to clusters of severe illness in Mongbwalu Health Zone, Ituri Province, deep in DRC's mineral-rich northeast.
Four health workers die within four days. Patients present with fever, body pain, vomiting, and in some cases, bleeding.
The virus has already been silently spreading since late April.
Lab analysis confirms Bundibugyo species in 8 of 13 blood samples, a rare species of Ebola last seen in a major outbreak over a decade ago.
There is no licensed vaccine. There is no approved treatment. Standard rapid-test platforms cannot detect this species.
DRC officially declares its 17th Ebola outbreak. On the same day, Uganda confirms a Bundibugyo case in Kampala, an elderly man admitted on 11 May died on 14 May, 2026.
A second unlinked case is confirmed in Kampala within 24 hours.
The outbreak has spread south from Ituri into Nord Kivu and Sud Kivu. WHO upgrades DRC's risk to “very high.”
A treatment centre is burned in Rwampara.
An American national tests positive and is evacuated to Germany.
Uganda reports 3 new confirmed cases, all in Kampala, a city of 3.6 million and a major international air hub. Uganda total: 5 confirmed cases, 1 death.
What started in a remote mining town is now in a capital city with flights across Africa and the world. A significant escalation.
WHO warns of a “catastrophic collision of disease and conflict.” Armed groups control much of the outbreak zone.
10 million people in the affected provinces face acute hunger.
An Oxford/Serum Institute vaccine candidate may reach trials in 2,3 months.
WHO Disease Outbreak Notice DON605 reports 134 confirmed cases across both countries, including nine confirmed in Uganda, all in Kampala. Eighteen deaths among confirmed cases.
At least three Uganda cases are linked to travel from DRC. Seven show signs of local transmission within Kampala.
Five health workers become the first to be discharged from Bunia's Ebola Treatment Centre, proof that Bundibugyo can be survived with early, dedicated care.
“This is a victory worth celebrating. It is possible to recover from Ebola when seeking care early in a dedicated facility.”
— Dr Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi, INRB DRC
Standard rapid Ebola tests only detect Zaire ebolavirus. They cannot detect Bundibugyo. Every symptomatic patient required individual PCR testing.
As PCR capacity scaled across Ituri, those 1,077 suspected cases were progressively tested. The majority returned negative and were removed from the count.
What remains: 344 DRC confirmed and 15 Uganda confirmed, across 23 health zones in Ituri, Nord Kivu and Sud Kivu.
19 new confirmed cases and two new deaths are reported in the DRC. A new health zone, Rimba in Ituri Province, reports its first three confirmed cases.
A first sign of containment: 32 contacts in Rwampara health zone complete the 21-day follow-up period.
18 new confirmed cases and no new deaths are reported in the DRC. A new health zone, Lita in Ituri Province, records its first confirmed case.
19 cases have absconded from care, 2 confirmed and 17 suspected, all in Ituri, posing a major risk for continued community transmission.
A safe and dignified burial team in Mongbwalu Health Zone was attacked by local residents; the mission vehicle sustained damage, its rearview mirror and windshield broken.
105 new confirmed cases and 16 new deaths are reported across three DRC provinces. Uganda adds 3 confirmed cases and its second death.
Bed occupancy in Bunia is now critical, the CTE treatment centre at 100% capacity and CME Bunia at 90%.
31 new confirmed cases, 6 deaths and 9 recoveries are reported across Ituri Province.
At Bunia General Referral Hospital, health-service use has collapsed across all departments as communities fear contamination. Patients are missing appointments for HIV, TB, NCDs and antenatal care, with no catch-up plan in place.
On the night of 6 June, a safe-burial team was attacked at Nyamurongo Cemetery, injuring two people and damaging two vehicles.
45 new confirmed cases, 12 deaths and 3 recoveries are reported in Ituri.
Contact tracing reveals that one confirmed case had travelled to Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, raising the risk of spread to a new region.
No vaccine. No treatment. The outbreak continues.
Data: Africa CDC, WHO, CDC, ECDC, MSF. Figures as of 8 June 2026.