Bunia, DRC / Kampala / Geneva — May 31, 2026: The Ebola outbreak spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda has reached a critical threshold, with Africa's top public health body confirming the situation is outpacing the global response. As of May 30, 2026, 263 confirmed Ebola cases and 43 confirmed deaths have been reported across both countries — but with more than 1,100 suspected cases still under active investigation, the true scale of the outbreak may be significantly larger.

The Official Numbers: Africa CDC and WHO Figures

As of May 30, 263 confirmed Ebola cases have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, said. More than 1,100 suspected cases are being investigated and 43 people are confirmed to have died as a result of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, Kaseya said in an FT op-ed published on Sunday.

The WHO confirmed 43 deaths across the countries, including 42 in Congo and one in Uganda. There are 272 confirmed cases of the disease in both countries, with 263 in Congo and nine in Uganda, the WHO reported. However, 349 people are suspected to have died from the virus in Congo and Uganda. The gap between confirmed and suspected deaths underlines how severely the outbreak is straining local diagnostic capacity and healthcare infrastructure.

For the most authoritative and continuously updated data on the 2026 Ebola outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's official Ebola Situation Summary provides real-time case counts, travel health notices, and public guidance for both the DRC and Uganda.

What Is the Bundibugyo Strain? The Rare Variant at the Center of This Outbreak

Unlike the more commonly known Zaire Ebola virus that caused the devastating 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, this outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus — a distinct and rarer strain with its own epidemiological profile.

The Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and has historically been associated with somewhat lower case fatality rates than other species of Ebola virus disease, though severe disease and death can still occur. The source of the virus is believed to be the fruit bat, and human infection can occur through contact with secretions from infected wildlife. It then spreads from person to person through the same method, and can be amplified by burial practices that involve contact with the deceased and inadequate infection prevention and control in healthcare settings.

The Epicentre: Ituri Province, DRC

On May 15, 2026, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo confirmed the outbreak in Ituri Province in northeastern DRC. Laboratory analysis confirmed the cause as Bundibugyo virus infection in 8 of 13 samples collected from suspected cases in the Mongbwalu and Rwampara health zones. Patients presented with symptoms including fever, generalized body pain, weakness, vomiting, and in some cases bleeding. Several patients reportedly deteriorated rapidly and died.

The outbreak is occurring in areas affected by insecurity, population displacement, mining-related population movement, and frequent cross-border travel — all of which may increase the risk of further transmission. The Ituri Province is no stranger to crisis: it has been a flashpoint for armed conflict for years, and it was the epicentre of a previous Ebola outbreak in 2018–2020 that killed over 2,280 people.

A Public Health Emergency of International Concern

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) — its highest level of alert, reserved for events with the potential to spread internationally and requiring a coordinated global response. The last time a PHEIC was declared for an Ebola outbreak was the 2018–2020 DRC epidemic.

The Ebola outbreak is the 17th in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the third-largest since Ebola was discovered half a century ago — and it is outpacing the global response. Health officials and aid workers say they lack even basic supplies such as masks after the outbreak spread was undetected for weeks.

Africa CDC's Urgent Call: "Permanent Investment" in Preparedness

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said national incident systems must be activated rapidly, and investments in pandemic preparedness must become permanent. He added that international partners play an essential role, but their support matters most when it aligns with strategies built by African institutions and African governments.

US Travel Notices and Ebola Screening Activated

On May 15, 2026, the CDC issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice for people traveling to Uganda and a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for people traveling to DRC. As of May 18, no suspected, probable, or confirmed Ebola cases related to this outbreak have been reported in the United States. Separately, the Trump administration expanded its Ebola traveler screening program at U.S. airports, requiring anyone who has visited DRC, South Sudan, or Uganda within 21 days to enter the U.S. through one of three designated airports — Houston Intercontinental, Washington Dulles, and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson.

How to Protect Yourself: Key Prevention Facts

For travelers and the general public, the key prevention guidance from health authorities includes:

  • Avoid contact with blood or body fluids of infected persons
  • Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person's blood or body fluids
  • Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola
  • Avoid contact with bats, forest antelopes, or non-human primates (live or dead)
  • Seek medical attention immediately if you develop fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding after travel to the affected region

The international response to this outbreak is at a critical juncture. With over 1,100 suspected cases still under investigation, the confirmed figure of 263 is almost certainly an undercount — and the coming weeks will determine whether global health agencies can bring the outbreak under control before it spreads further across the highly mobile cross-border populations of central and east Africa.