Overview
- The outbreak began on May 15 in Ituri province, northeastern DR Congo, and has since produced more than 1,000 suspected cases with spread into neighbouring Uganda, where several infections and one death have been confirmed.
- Health agencies report divergent tallies—Africa CDC cited about 1,077 suspected cases and 246 deaths while WHO figures are lower—reflecting limited lab capacity, delayed confirmations and large surveillance gaps in the region.
- WHO Director-General Tedros visited DR Congo, called for a ceasefire to allow safe access to patients, and noted the first confirmed recovery after two negative tests as a limited sign of progress.
- There is no approved vaccine or targeted therapy for the rare Bundibugyo variant, so Africa CDC and researchers are fast-tracking candidate vaccines and drugs with optimistic targets toward late 2026 but realistic deployment will take months.
- International responses include a US increase in Ebola aid to $112 million, Uganda’s border and 21-day quarantine measures, and a Kenyan court blocking a planned US quarantine centre, all of which are reshaping cross-border containment and care options.