The Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) 17th Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus and declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 17 May 2026, has been spreading across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, with confirmed cross-border transmission into the Ugandan capital, Kampala. Critical containment gaps, including insecurity and conflict, a contact follow-up rate well below the target level, infections among healthcare workers, deficiencies in infection prevention and control (IPC), and a funding shortfall, are sustaining transmission. The absence of an approved vaccine for this species of ebolavirus limits the range of available countermeasures.
On 2 June 2026, WHO reported that the number of suspected cases in the DRC had decreased compared to previous reports after many were ruled out through investigation and testing. This decline reflects case reclassification rather than necessarily reduced transmission.
D.R. Congo: data as of 04 June 2026 (for updates see WHO dashboard and ECDC):
- Cases: 379 confirmed and 303 suspected cases.
Confirmed cases have been reported from Ituri (> 340 confirmed cases in 17 health zones), North Kivu (19 confirmed cases in seven health zones) and South Kivu provinces (three cases from one health zone), - Deaths: 63 confirmed and 259 suspected deaths.
- Active cases: 238 confirmed cases.
- Recoveries: 6 cases.
- Contacts: The overall contact follow-up rate in the DRC was 43.6%, below the operational target of 95%.
- Operational update: Bunia airport in Ituri Province reopened after a previous suspension of passenger flights. Screening measures have been put in place.
- Operational challenges:
- Information regarding transmission chains and affected population groups is currently limited, partly due to the complex context of ongoing insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the affected areas.
Uganda: data as of 04 June 2026 (for updates see WHO dashboard and ECDC):
- Cases, deaths: a total of 16 confirmed cases, including one death have been reported.
- Location: At least seven cases were associated with local transmission events and four with travel links to DRC, according to health officials. Of nine cases with known geographical information, eight cases were reported in Kampala, except one case that was reported in the neighbouring district of Wakiso. Three of the cases have travel links to DRC and five are contacts linked to the first two cases, including 3 healthcare workers.
- Contacts: As of 02 June, 668 contacts have been identified and are being closely monitored / followed up.
Outside Africa:
- One confirmed BVD case involving a US surgeon is still hospitalized in Berlin, Germany as well as six contacts. Another contact was to be transferred to Czechia.
- Kenya investigated 22 Ebola alerts across nine counties, all of which tested negative. The country also strengthened surveillance, designated Ebola testing laboratories, expanded isolation capacity at national and county levels, and enhanced screening at priority points of entry.
- Several symptomatic travellers from affected areas have been tested in EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA
countries, all of which were negative so far.
Entry and exit screenings and control measures:
Several countries and territories reported additional border health or travel-related measures. For most UpToDate information, see IATA LINK.
New documents related to the BVD outbreak in DRC and Uganda:
- Experts convened by WHO advise on candidate treatments and vaccines for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus
- WHO Technical Advisory Group on candidate vaccine prioritization: meeting report, 19 and 25 May 2026 (28. May 2026)
- WHO emergency guidance on the use of licensed Ebola virus vaccine during Bundibugyo virus disease outbreaks, 28 May 2026
- WHO Technical Advisory Group on therapeutics prioritization for Bundibugyo virus disease: meeting report, 20 and 26 May 2026
- ECDC: Ebola disease interim case definition for reporting in the EU/EEA
ECDC: Rapid ECDC advice on infection prevention and control measures for Ebola disease in EU/EEA healthcare settings (02 June 2026) - ECDC: Laboratory guidance and resources for Ebola disease outbreak in DRC
- ECDC: Risk assessment guidelines for infectious diseases transmitted on aircraft (RAGIDA) – Ebola disease update (30 May 2026)
- ECDC: Questions and answers about the current outbreak of Ebola disease (29 May 2026)
Authorities are concerned about the risk of further spread due to population high mobility, insecurity, and the proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan through a porous border.
Distribution of suspected and confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, as of 29 May 2026:
WHO assesses the risk of the epidemic as very high at the national level, high at regional levels, and low at the global level (including Switzerland and the EU/EEW). For details, see LINK.
ECDC assesses the risk for EU/EEA travellers in affected areas as low if precautions (see under “consequences for travelers”) are followed but emphasizes uncertainties and rapid evolution.
Due to the very recent declaration of the outbreak and the uncertainties related to the
epidemiological information, it is probable that the outbreak is much larger than what is currently
being reported – not only in regards to the number of affected cases, but also in its geographical extent.
The situation is evolving rapidly. Avoid non-essential travel to affected areas in DRC, Uganda, as well as to South Sudan, also due to the security situation (see EDA). In case travel cannot be avoided, see precautions below:
General preventive measures:
- Wash hands regularly and carefully using soap and water (or alcohol gel if soap is unavailable).
- Avoid contact with sick people who have symptoms, such as fever, muscle pain, and rash.
- Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.
- Avoid visiting healthcare facilities in the affected areas for nonurgent medical care or non-medical reasons.
- Avoid contact with dead bodies or items that have been in contact with dead bodies, participating in funeral or burial rituals, or attending a funeral or burial.
- Avoid handling, cooking, or eating bush/wild meat (meat of wild/feral mammals killed for food).
- Wash and peel fruit and vegetables before consumption.
- Avoid visiting mines or bat caves and contact with all wild animals; alive or dead, particularly bats and the great apes.
- Practice safer sex.
Of note: there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment against Ebola diseased caused by Bundibugyo virus. For humanitarian missions, consultation with a travel medicine specialist is recommended.
While in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving:
- Watch for symptoms.
- Follow quarantine measures established by your local health authorities.
! In case of symptoms such as fever or feeling feverish during your stay in and for 21 days after leaving north-eastern D.R. Congo (province of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu) and /or Uganda, especially the affected areas:
- Separate yourself from others (isolate) immediately.
- Do not travel.
- By phone: contact local health authorities or a healthcare facility for a thorough evaluation of your risk (e.g. tropical institute or travel clinic or university hospital infectious disease unit).
- Always state that you were in the affected areas and you may have had a possible exposure to Ebola (incubation period: 2-21 days).
- While under investigation as a suspected case, please also raise the issue of a malaria test and other investigations.
- Details for Ebola disease: see BAG and RKI (in German) or ECDC (in English).
Recommendations of the Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine (as of 04 June 2026, subject to change according to the evolving situation):
A suspected case is:
- A symptomatic person (see FOPH case definition) with a history of stay within the last 21 days in north-eastern D.R. Congo (province of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu) and/or Uganda.
AND - Having had a high-risk exposure* - evaluated by a specialist in tropical medicine or infectious diseases (in case of doubt, contact the Geneva Reference Centre for Emerging Virus Diseases).
Such cases should be isolated, tested, and reported to the Cantonal Physician and the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health within 2 hours.
*High-risk exposure includes:
- Participation in local funerals; or
- Contact with a sick patient, their body fluids, and/or contaminated material, at home, during transport, or in a healthcare facility; or
- Attendance at a local healthcare facility.
- Direct contact with bats, rodents, non-human primates, living or dead, in or from Ebola disease affected areas, or bushmeat.
- Having unprotected sexual contact with a case up to six months after recovery.