WHO Rapid Risk Assessment-Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo v4

Overview

Since its detection in May 2026, the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has expanded rapidly, reaching 4566 confirmed cases and 2128 deaths across six provinces by 13 August 2026. Ituri Province remains the epicentre, but ongoing transmission, spread to new areas, a high case fatality ratio (47%), and increasing infections among healthcare workers indicate that the outbreak remains severe and difficult to control.

Although surveillance and contact tracing have expanded, many transmission chains remain unidentified, while insecurity, limited healthcare capacity, funding gaps, and the absence of a licensed vaccine continue to hinder response efforts. Imported cases have been reported in Uganda, France, and Germany, demonstrating the potential for international spread, although no sustained transmission has occurred outside the DRC.

The overall risk remains very high in the DRC, high for neighbouring countries, particularly those sharing land borders with the DRC, and low at the regional and global levels, where preparedness and rapid detection measures are helping to prevent wider spread.