Bundibugyo Ebola Spreads Across Ituri Province and into Uganda
An Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus — a strain for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists — is actively spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has now reached Uganda. On May 16, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the highest international health alert available.
Where and how many
The outbreak began April 24, 2026, with the suspected index case a healthcare worker at a medical center in Bunia, Ituri Province, whose source of infection remains unknown. As of May 19:
- 513 total cases, including 131 deaths
- Active transmission across multiple health zones in Ituri Province
- Two laboratory-confirmed cases in North Kivu Province – one each in Butembo and Goma
- At least four healthcare workers have died
- Contact tracing is ongoing
It has now reached Uganda
Two imported cases have been confirmed in Kampala, both travelers who arrived separately from the DRC. The first was hospitalized May 11 and died May 14. The second was confirmed May 16. The cases are not believed to be linked to each other, and no secondary spread in Uganda has been reported to date.
Why this outbreak is especially difficult to contain
The response in the DRC is significantly complicated by regional insecurity, restricted access for health workers, civil unrest, and ongoing population movement across affected areas — all of which make detection and isolation of new cases harder and slower.
What travelers need to know about this strain
Bundibugyo ebolavirus is distinct from the more widely known Zaire ebolavirus. The existing Ebola vaccines, including Ervebo, do not protect against this strain, and no therapeutics have been approved for it.
Symptoms to watch for
Symptoms typically appear 2–21 days after exposure. Watch for:
- Sudden fever, severe headache, and intense fatigue
- Muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramping
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising in later stages of illness
If you develop these symptoms within 21 days of returning from the DRC or Kampala, do not go directly to a clinic or emergency room. Call ahead so your provider can prepare isolation precautions and protect staff and other patients from potential exposure.
How to protect yourself
- Avoid all non-essential travel to Ituri and North Kivu provinces in the DRC until the outbreak is declared over
- If travel to Kampala is necessary, avoid hospitals and crowded healthcare settings unless urgently needed
- Ebola does not spread through the air – it requires direct contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who is symptomatic. Standard precautions and awareness go a long way
- There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for this outbreak
