On 15 May 2026, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Ministry of Health of Uganda declared an outbreak of Ebola disease following the confirmation of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in both countries. On 17 May 2026, WHO’s Director-General determined that Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in DRC and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), as defined in the provisions of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). On 18 May 2026, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared a public health emergency of continental security. On 19 May 2026, the Director-General of WHO convened the first meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee, and temporary recommendations were issued to State Parties.

BVD

BVD is a severe and often fatal form of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of the Orthoebolavirus species. It is a zoonotic disease, with fruit bats as the suspected natural reservoir; the virus naturally lives and hides in fruit bats without making them sick. However, these bats can pass the virus to other wildlife like non-human primates. Human infection can occur through close contact with the blood or secretions of infected wildlife, such as bats or non-human primates, when a person comes into close contact with any of these infected wild animals. This can subsequently spread from person to person through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces or items. Transmission is particularly amplified in health-care settings when infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are suboptimal, and during unsafe burial practices involving direct contact with the deceased.

The incubation period for BVD ranges from 2 to 21 days, and individuals are usually not infectious until symptom onset. Early symptoms are non-specific, including fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, which complicates clinical diagnosis and can delay detection. These can progress to gastrointestinal symptoms, organ dysfunction and in some cases haemorrhagic manifestations.

Uganda had a BVD outbreak in 2007, and DRC had a BVD outbreak in 2012. DRC also had an Ebola outbreak in 2007, but this was the Zaire strain and not BVD. Case fatality rates for the past 2 BVD outbreaks reported in Uganda and in DRC in 2007 and 2012 have ranged from approximately 30% to 50%.

While vaccines exist for the Zaire Ebola virus disease, there is no licensed vaccine or specific therapeutics against BVD.

WHO response in affected areas

Within affected areas, WHO is heavily scaling up public health interventions, including surveillance, diagnostics, cross-border screening, contact tracing, clinical management, IPC, risk communication and direct community engagement. However, high mobility and ongoing armed conflict and insecurity in Ituri province, DRC, where the majority of cases have been detected, significantly complicate response operations. The health system in affected areas was already fragile prior to the outbreak and is now under additional strain.

On 6 June 2026, WHO assessed the overall national risk to be very high in DRC; high in Uganda and in countries with land borders adjoining countries with documented BDV detections; and low for the rest of the African region and for global risk (including the WHO European Region).

On 5 June 2026, Africa CDC and WHO launched a joint continental preparedness and response plan on the ongoing Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The plan aims to raise US$ 518 million to support African countries, together with partners, to prepare for, rapidly detect and respond to the outbreak.

Preparedness and operational readiness in the WHO European Region

WHO/Europe has activated an Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) to work on scenario-based planning to support Member States to enhance their preparedness and operational readiness, including the following anticipatory actions:

• IHR communication with States Parties;
• monitoring, surveillance and assessment of suspected BVD cases entering the Region, with routine follow-up to determine case status;
• monitoring public health and social measures at points-of-entry; and
• producing regional risk assessments and aligned guidance alongside the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The WHO/Europe ECC collaborates regularly with the European Commission Health Security Committee. Furthermore, WHO/Europe is:

• performing active surveillance for possible signals of BDV in the Region;
• actively sharing technical documentation and guidance;
• supporting Member States to ensure the implementation of the IHR Emergency Committee recommendations for points of entry;
• conducting social listening;
• developing risk communication messaging; and
• engaging with African diaspora civil society groups to counter stigma.

Following a risk-based, IHR–aligned response across sectors, WHO has established a Border Health Partners Coordination Group and is actively monitoring public health and social measures, including tracking international travel and trade measures and issuing updates to Member States to ensure information sharing and common understanding as the situation evolves.

Ebola virus outbreaks

The Bundibugyo virus was first identified in 2007 as one of the distinct species of Orthoebolavirus that causes Ebola disease. This current outbreak is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak in the DRC since 1976. The last Ebola disease outbreak in the country was an outbreak of Ebola virus disease, which was declared on 4 September 2025, with a total of 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable), including 45 deaths, reported from 6 health areas in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai Province. The end of the outbreak was declared on 1 December 2025.

Between 2013–2016, a previous outbreak caused by the Ebola virus began in Guinea and was the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, involving multiple countries and continents. Cases were reported in 3 countries with widespread and intense transmission (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) and other countries with initial case(s) or with localized transmission. Other large outbreaks of Ebola virus since 1976 have resulted in hundreds of cases in DRC and Gabon. Smaller outbreaks have also occurred in DRC, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and South Africa.