Overview
- Government data on Wednesday showed confirmed cases have climbed to about 6,186 and the death toll has passed 3,000, with hundreds still in isolation or treatment.
- The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which no licensed vaccine or proven therapy exists, so health teams have begun using the Zaire vaccine Ervebo for frontline protection while trials test its effectiveness.
- Violence, mass displacement, attacks on treatment centres and strikes by unpaid health workers have severely weakened surveillance, contact tracing and safe burial operations and slowed patient access to care.
- Donors are increasing emergency support — the UK announced roughly £51.8 million more to bring its total to about £78 million — but UN appeals say a multi‑billion dollar, sustained funding effort is still needed to change the epidemic’s course.
- The outbreak began in mid‑May but likely spread undetected for months, it is concentrated in eastern provinces led by Ituri, and UN and WHO officials warn transmission is the fastest on record and risks exceeding the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic if not contained.