Ebola Bundibugyo 2026 PHEIC — DRC & Uganda Outbreak Dataset
Bundibugyo ebolavirus PHEIC outbreak spanning the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ituri province) and Uganda since 15 May 2026. WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 18 May 2026. Latest WHO situation report: 676 total reported cases across both countries; 132 deaths recorded; 668 contacts identified (541 in DRC, 127 in Uganda). No WHO-approved vaccine or monoclonal antibody therapy exists for the Bundibugyo strain — Ervebo and current mAb therapies cover only Zaire ebolavirus. Three Ebola treatment centers are operational in Ituri. Contact tracing ongoing in South Sudan, South Africa, Germany and the United States. OutbreakWatch syncs counts every 2h from WHO, Africa CDC, CDC, ECDC and ProMED.
Last updated: Jun 20, 2026 · → Live tracker with real-time updates
Case Summary
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Lab-confirmed cases | 2 |
| Cases under investigation / suspected | 674 |
| Total reported cases | 676 |
| Deaths | 132 |
| Case fatality rate (reported) | 20% |
| Countries with confirmed/suspected cases | 3 |
| Countries with active contact tracing | 4 |
| Outbreak onset | May 15, 2026 |
| PHEIC declaration | 18 May 2026 (WHO Emergency Committee) |
| Virus (strain) | Bundibugyo ebolavirus — no approved vaccine or mAb therapy |
Geographic Coverage
Countries with Reported Cases
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Uganda
- South Sudan
Countries with Active Contact Tracing
- United States
- South Africa
- Germany
- United Kingdom
Hospitalization Locations
- Ituri (DRC)
- Kampala (Uganda)
WHO Timeline — DRC & Uganda
Chronological order · Sources: WHO Disease Outbreak News, Africa CDC, PAHO · Live updates →
- May 15, 2026Outbreak onset — Bundibugyo ebolavirus detected in DRC Ituri province
First clinical cases attributed to Bundibugyo ebolavirus identified in DRC's Ituri province. Worldwide search interest for 'ebola' rises approximately 10× baseline over 48 hours (Google Trends). Polymarket 'Ebola pandemic in 2026' market sees $34k of 24-hour volume on a $40k open interest.
Source → - May 18, 2026WHO Situation Report: 528 cases, 132 deaths, 3 treatment centers opened in Ituri
Per WHO Situation Report dated 18 May 2026: 528 reported cases across DRC and Uganda (2 lab-confirmed in Uganda, 526 under investigation), 132 deaths, 668 contacts identified (541 in DRC, 127 in Uganda). DRC opens three Ebola treatment centers in Ituri province. South African President Ramaphosa issues a statement on cross-border risk.
Source → - May 18, 2026WHO declares Bundibugyo Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
The World Health Organization Emergency Committee convened and declared the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak across DRC and Uganda a PHEIC — one of the highest-level global health alerts. PAHO confirmed the Bundibugyo strain identification. No vaccine or mAb therapy approved for this strain. US CDC restricts entry from affected countries; US State Department issues Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory for DRC. NYT, Washington Post, BBC, Bloomberg, Le Figaro and Euronews provide global coverage.
Source → - May 19, 2026Death toll updated to 131 (Adnkronos/Africa CDC); South Sudan spread confirmed
Italian newswire Adnkronos reports the DRC Ebola death toll has risen to 131. AP Health corroborates with 'nearly 120'; Politico reports 'more than 110'. South Sudan confirms cross-border spread and is added to the affected-country list. South Africa and Germany have initiated contact tracing for returning travelers.
Source → - Jun 20, 2026WHO situation report: 676 total reported cases — DRC and Uganda
The latest WHO situation report records 676 reported cases across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda since outbreak onset on 15 May 2026. The PHEIC status remains active. Three dedicated Ebola treatment centers continue operating in Ituri province, DRC. Regional contact tracing is ongoing in South Sudan, South Africa, Germany and the United States. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or monoclonal antibody therapy.
Source →
Key Epidemiological Facts
- Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain confirmed by PAHO — NO approved vaccine or monoclonal antibody therapy exists (Ervebo and mAb therapies cover Zaire ebolavirus only, not Bundibugyo).
- WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 18 May 2026 — one of the highest-level global health alerts issued by the UN health agency.
- Latest WHO situation report: 676 total reported cases across DRC (Ituri province) and Uganda, with 132 deaths and 668 contacts identified.
- DRC has opened three dedicated Ebola treatment centers in Ituri province to isolate cases and reduce community transmission.
- South Sudan has confirmed cross-border spread. South Africa, Germany and the United States are conducting active contact tracing for returning travelers. US CDC restricts entry from affected countries.
- US State Department issued a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Bundibugyo ebolavirus has a historical case fatality rate of approximately 25–40%, significantly lower than the Zaire strain (up to 90%).
- Ebola is NOT airborne. Transmission requires direct contact with blood or body fluids of a symptomatic or deceased person, or contaminated materials.
- Incubation period: 2–21 days. People are NOT contagious until they develop symptoms.
- Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the suspected natural reservoir host for all Ebola species.
Official Sources
- WHO — Ebola Disease Outbreak News
- WHO — Ebola virus disease overview
- Africa CDC — Ebola situation reports
- PAHO — Bundibugyo PHEIC confirmation
- CDC — Ebola (Ebola Virus Disease)
- CDC — Ebola strains and history
- Polymarket — Ebola pandemic in 2026
Dataset compiled by OutbreakWatch from official sources. View live tracker →