Situation as of 28 August 2026
At Day-100, using data reported through 22 August, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had recorded 5,514 confirmed cases and 2,642 deaths across 57 health zones in six provinces. This is the largest recorded Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak and the second-largest Ebola outbreak by confirmed case count. Ituri remained the epicentre, although transmission was expanding in other provinces. Uganda reported 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths. After announcing interruption of local transmission on 28 July, Uganda completed the required monitoring period, and WHO and Africa CDC confirmed the end of the outbreak on 27 August. The risk of reintroduction remains because transmission continues in the DRC.
Why this matters
An imported case was detected in France, and two US patients diagnosed in the DRC, a physician and a humanitarian worker, were medically evacuated to Germany. These events demonstrate the operational relevance of the outbreak to European health systems. Nevertheless, ECDC continues to assess the likelihood of infection for people living in the EU/EEA as very low.
What clinicians should know
Clinicians should consider Bundibugyo virus disease in patients with compatible symptoms and relevant travel or exposure history. Suspected cases require immediate isolation, prompt notification of public-health authorities and access to viral haemorrhagic fever testing capable of detecting Bundibugyo virus rather than only Ebola virus (EBOV). High-quality supportive care remains central. No vaccine or virus-specific treatment has yet demonstrated clinical efficacy against Bundibugyo virus, although therapeutic, post-exposure prophylaxis, and vaccine studies are ongoing.
What remains uncertain
The full extent and geographical distribution of transmission remain uncertain because case detection and contact tracing are incomplete. Many cases have arisen outside recognised transmission chains, while genomic sampling remains sparse and geographically uneven. The effectiveness of investigational therapeutics and vaccines, including whether observed immunological cross-reactivity provides clinical protection, has not been established.
Reliable sources and EIS identification
This communication was prepared by the ESCMID Emerging Infections Subcommittee using information from the DRC Ministry of Health/INSP, the WHO Day-100 situation report, the WHO and Africa CDC announcement confirming the end of the outbreak in Uganda and the ECDC outbreak assessment. Information is current as of 28 August 2026.