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About this outbreak

Bundibugyo virus: the strain behind the 2026 DRC & Uganda outbreak

The ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ituri Province) and Uganda (Kampala) is caused by Bundibugyo virus — one of the four ebolavirus species known to cause disease in people, and a different species from the better-known Zaire ebolavirus. WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 17 May 2026, and Africa CDC declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.

There is no approved vaccine and no approved therapeutic for Bundibugyo virus. The Ervebo and Zabdeno/Mvabea vaccines and the Inmazeb / Ebanga monoclonal antibody treatments are licensed against Zaire ebolavirus and are not expected to protect against Bundibugyo. Outbreak response relies on rapid case isolation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control in clinics, safe and dignified burials, and supportive care. The map above tracks confirmed and suspected cases as reported by health authorities.

What it is

Bundibugyo virus — a distinct ebolavirus species

Bundibugyo virus was first described in 2008 after an outbreak in Bundibugyo District, western Uganda. It is one of four ebolaviruses known to cause disease in people and is genetically distinct from Zaire ebolavirus — their genomes differ by at least 30 percent — which is why Zaire-targeted vaccines and antibody treatments are not expected to protect against it.

  • Previous outbreaks: Uganda 2007–08 and DR Congo (Province Orientale) 2012.
  • Historic case-fatality: roughly 25% in Uganda 2007 and around 50% in DRC 2012.
  • Fruit bats are the suspected natural reservoir; spillover may occur via bushmeat.
How it spreads

Direct contact with body fluids

Ebola disease is not airborne. Bundibugyo virus spreads through direct contact (broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, vomit, stool, sweat, urine, semen, saliva, or breast milk of a sick or recently deceased person, or with surfaces and materials contaminated by those fluids.

  • Healthcare-associated transmission has been documented in this outbreak — informal clinics with limited PPE are a major risk.
  • Funeral practices that involve washing or touching the body are a known amplifier.
  • The virus can persist in semen and some other body fluids for months after recovery.
Symptoms

Indistinguishable from other Ebola species

Bundibugyo virus disease cannot be told apart from disease caused by other ebolaviruses on symptoms alone. The incubation period is 2 to 21 days. Onset is abrupt: fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, and impaired kidney and liver function — and, in some patients, internal and external bleeding.

  • People are not contagious until they develop symptoms.
  • Haemorrhagic signs appear in a minority of cases.
  • Diagnosis must be confirmed by PCR or antigen testing — clinical signs overlap with malaria and other tropical illnesses.
No vaccine, no approved cure

Response relies on isolation, PPE, and safe burials

There is no licensed vaccine and no approved therapeutic against Bundibugyo virus. The Ervebo and Zabdeno/Mvabea vaccines, and the Inmazeb and Ebanga monoclonal antibodies, target Zaire ebolavirus and are not expected to be protective here. Outbreak control depends on rapid case isolation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control in clinics, safe and dignified burials, and supportive ICU-style care.

  • Candidate vaccines and therapeutics for Bundibugyo virus are in early development — WHO is calling for clinical trials inside the outbreak response.
  • Avoid contact with anyone who is sick or has died from a suspected case; do not handle bodies without PPE.
  • Travellers returning from affected areas should monitor their health for 21 days and contact a clinician immediately at the first sign of fever.
Frequently asked

Common questions

Is there a vaccine for this outbreak?+

No. There is no licensed vaccine against Bundibugyo virus, the strain driving the 2026 DRC and Uganda outbreak. The Ervebo and Zabdeno/Mvabea vaccines are licensed against Zaire ebolavirus — a different species whose genome differs from Bundibugyo by at least 30 percent — and are not expected to protect against Bundibugyo virus disease. WHO has called for accelerated clinical trials of candidate Bundibugyo vaccines and therapeutics as part of the outbreak response.

Are the Zaire-ebolavirus antibody drugs (Inmazeb, Ebanga) useful here?+

Probably not. Inmazeb (atoltivimab/maftivimab/odesivimab) and Ebanga (ansuvimab) are approved for Zaire ebolavirus and substantially improve survival when given early — but they are species-specific monoclonal antibodies and are not expected to neutralise Bundibugyo virus. Patients receive supportive care: fluids, electrolyte management, oxygen, and treatment of secondary infections.

Is Ebola airborne?+

No. Bundibugyo virus, like other ebolaviruses, does not spread through the air the way measles or COVID-19 can. Transmission requires direct contact with body fluids of an infected person (or contaminated surfaces and materials), or contact with infected animals.

What's the difference between a confirmed case and a suspected case?+

A suspected case is someone whose symptoms and exposure history match the case definition but whose blood has not yet been tested. A confirmed case has tested positive in a laboratory (usually by PCR). Outbreak counts often include both — confirmed plus suspected — because suspected cases still drive isolation and contact-tracing decisions. In the current outbreak, suspected cases dominate the totals.

How fatal is Bundibugyo virus disease?+

In previous Bundibugyo outbreaks the case-fatality ratio has been roughly 25% (Uganda 2007–08) and around 50% (DRC 2012). For comparison, Zaire ebolavirus has historically killed 60–90 percent of people infected. Outcomes improve substantially with early isolation, intravenous fluids, and ICU-level supportive care, but mortality remains high where access to care is limited.

Can someone who recovers still transmit the virus?+

Yes, in some cases. Ebola virus can persist in immune-privileged body sites such as semen, eye fluid, and central-nervous-system tissue for months after recovery. Sexual transmission from male survivors has been documented with other ebolaviruses, which is why survivors are counselled and supported during a follow-up testing period.

Sources
WHO — DRC & Uganda Ebola outbreak declared a PHEIC (17 May 2026)
https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2026-epidemic-of-ebola-disease-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-and-uganda-determined-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern
MSF UK — Ebola outbreak 2026: what MSF is doing and how you can help
https://msf.org.uk/article/ebola-outbreak-2026-what-msf-doing-and-how-can-i-help
Africa CDC — Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security
https://africacdc.org/news-item/africa-cdc-declares-the-ongoing-bundibugyo-ebola-outbreak-a-public-health-emergency-of-continental-security/
U.S. CDC — Travel notice: Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Level 3)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level3/ebola-democratic-republic-of-the-congo

This Ebola monitor is an experimental, AI-assisted dashboard tracking the 2026 Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Country counts are derived from public posts processed by an automated pipeline and may lag or differ from official surveillance data — always cross-check with WHO, Africa CDC, and national ministries of health. The medical information in this section is for general education only and is not medical advice — if you suspect Ebola exposure or develop symptoms, contact your local public-health authority or a qualified clinician immediately.