Outbreak Watch

Ebola Disease

Avicena tracks the 2026 Bundibugyo ebolavirus epidemic in Central Africa, restating the confirmed cases, deaths and key events reported by the DRC's INSP and WHO. Select a region to see its overview, figures, map and key events.

Colourised transmission electron micrograph of an Ebola virion, showing its characteristic filament shape. CDC Public Health Image Library.
On this page RegionsSituation Map Key EventsAffected Countries

Global

Public health emergency Updated 30 Sep 2026

The DRC declared a Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak on 15 May 2026; WHO determined it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 16 May. INSP reports 8,116 confirmed cases and 3,924 deaths as at 27 September in seven provinces. WHO calls it the largest Ebola outbreak in the DRC's history, the largest caused by Bundibugyo virus and the second largest after West Africa in 2013. The licensed vaccine and antibody treatments target Zaire ebolavirus; the response relies on isolation, contact tracing and supportive care. Health workers have received Ervebo since 27 August; WHO says its protection against Bundibugyo virus is unknown. WHO reported on 25 September that daily cases remain high nationally.

  • Key Facts
  • The licensed vaccine Ervebo and the antibody treatments Inmazeb and Ebanga are approved for Zaire ebolavirus alone.
  • Bundibugyo virus caused two recorded outbreaks before 2026, in 2007 and 2012.
  • Vaccination of health workers with Ervebo began on 27 August, and WHO says its protection against Bundibugyo virus is not known.
  • WHO's update of 10 September counts 6,778 cases worldwide, all but 21 of them in the DRC.
  • Two vaccines designed against Bundibugyo virus are in human trials, and neither is available for use in this outbreak.
  • Since 1976 there have been roughly 45 recorded Ebola outbreaks, with about 37,900 cases and 16,600 deaths.
  • The largest recorded outbreak is West Africa 2013 to 2016, with 28,652 cases and 11,325 deaths.
  • WHO confirmed on 1 August 2026 that this is the largest Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC.
  • WHO reports that enhanced monitoring ended in France and Uganda on 27 August, and the outbreak is confined to the DRC.
  • WHO reports that of 76 Ebola alerts investigated across 23 countries since May, 70 were ruled out.

By the Numbers

8,116
Confirmed cases
DRC, as at 27 Sep 2026
3,924
Deaths
48.3 percent of confirmed
2nd
Largest ever
and the largest in DRC's history
0
Licensed countermeasures
for Bundibugyo virus
Ebola Outbreak Locations 10 locations tracked

Key Events 28 entries

Every Affected Country

Every country with a recorded human Ebola case since 1976, including imported cases and laboratory exposures, grouped by region. Entries for the 2026 epidemic are updated with each report; historical entries are settled.

Africa 13 countries

DR CongoActive, 17th outbreak

8,116 confirmed cases and 3,924 deaths in the 2026 Bundibugyo epidemic as at 27 September, a case fatality ratio of 48.3 percent, across seven provinces. The DRC has recorded 17 outbreaks since the virus was identified at Yambuku in 1976, more than any other country.

First reported 1976
Where Ituri; North Kivu; Yambuku; Kikwit; Bulape
IturiNorth KivuSouth KivuHaut-UeleTshopoBas-UeleSud-Ubangi
UgandaDeclared over 28 Jul 2026

20 confirmed cases and 2 deaths in 2026, contained in 74 days with no community transmission. Earlier outbreaks include Gulu in 2000, with 425 cases, and three Sudan virus outbreaks since 2022.

First reported 2000
Where Kampala; Mubende; Bundibugyo; Gulu
KampalaWakisoMubendeBundibugyo
SudanHistorical, source of Sudan virus

The 1976 Nzara outbreak (284 cases, 151 deaths) was one of the two simultaneous outbreaks that first identified Ebola; recurrences in 1979 and 2004

First reported 1976
Where Nzara; Maridi; Yambio
GuineaHistorical, epicentre of the West Africa epidemic

Index country of the 2013 to 2016 West Africa epidemic, the largest on record; a 2021 resurgence was traced to a survivor still shedding virus about five years later

First reported 2013
Where Gueckedou; N'Zerekore
LiberiaHistorical

One of the three worst-affected countries in the West Africa epidemic

First reported 2014
Where Monrovia; Lofa
Sierra LeoneHistorical

One of the three worst-affected countries in the West Africa epidemic; Bombali virus, a sixth Ebola species with no known human cases, was found in bats here in 2018

First reported 2014
Where Kenema; Freetown
GabonHistorical

Three outbreaks between 1994 and 1997, several traced to contact with infected primates

First reported 1994
Where Mayibout; Booue; Makokou
Republic of CongoHistorical

Outbreaks in 2001 to 2003 and 2005, linked to the Gabon border region

First reported 2001
Where Mbomo; Kelle; Etoumbi
Cote d'IvoireHistorical, single case

One case, a scientist infected during a chimpanzee necropsy in Tai National Park; the only recorded human Tai Forest virus infection, and the patient survived

First reported 1994
Where Tai National Park
NigeriaHistorical, imported and contained

20 cases after a single infected traveller arrived in Lagos; contained within three months and widely cited as a model response

First reported 2014
Where Lagos; Port Harcourt
MaliHistorical, imported

8 cases imported during the West Africa epidemic

First reported 2014
Where Bamako; Kayes
SenegalHistorical, imported and contained

1 imported case, no onward transmission

First reported 2014
Where Dakar
South AfricaHistorical, laboratory acquired

1 case, a nurse infected while treating a patient evacuated from Gabon

First reported 1996
Where Johannesburg

Europe 6 countries

GermanyImported 2026, resolved

2 humanitarian workers medically evacuated from DR Congo and treated in Berlin; both recovered. Also the site of the original 1967 Marburg outbreak, a related filovirus

First reported 2026
Where Berlin; Marburg
FranceImported 2026, resolved

1 doctor infected on a humanitarian mission in DR Congo, confirmed 24 Jun 2026 and discharged 4 Jul

First reported 2026
Where Paris
SpainHistorical, imported

1 secondary infection in a nurse who treated a repatriated missionary, the first Ebola transmission recorded outside Africa

First reported 2014
Where Madrid
United KingdomHistorical, imported and laboratory

1 laboratory infection from a needlestick in 1976; imported cases in returning healthcare workers during the West Africa epidemic

First reported 1976
Where London; Glasgow
ItalyHistorical, imported

1 imported case in a returning healthcare worker; also a 1992 Reston virus event in imported monkeys, which caused no human illness

First reported 2015
Where Rome; Siena
RussiaHistorical, laboratory acquired

2 fatal laboratory infections, in 1996 and 2004, both from needlestick injuries

First reported 1996
Where Sergiev Posad; Koltsovo

North America 1 country

United StatesHistorical, imported and Reston

4 imported or locally transmitted cases during the West Africa epidemic, including 2 nurses infected in Dallas; separately, Reston virus events in imported monkeys from 1989, which caused seroconversion but no illness

First reported 1989
Where Dallas; Reston; New York

Southeast Asia 1 country

PhilippinesReston virus only, no human illness

Repeated Reston virus events in monkey export facilities and pig farms; workers seroconverted but none became ill. Reston is the only Ebola species not known to cause human disease

First reported 1989
Where Manila; Laguna

Source: DRC INSP daily situation reports, WHO AFRO, WHO Disease Outbreak News, ECDC. Updated daily, following the DRC INSP situation report. Other trackers: H5N1 Bird Flu.