Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Spreads Fast
An Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is spreading faster than any previous outbreak. The charity Médecins Sans Frontières made this warning.
DR Congo has recorded over 1,000 suspected cases since mid-May. More than 220 people are suspected to have died since the outbreak began.
The World Health Organization declared it a global health emergency on 17 May 2026. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the outbreak's center in Ituri province.
He met with local communities to discuss how to fight the outbreak. The outbreak has spread beyond Ituri to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
Cases have also been confirmed in Kampala in Uganda. This is DR Congo's 17th Ebola outbreak.
It is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain.
Key Terms 4
- Médecins Sans Frontières International charity providing medical care in crisis zones
- Bundibugyo virus strain A type of Ebola virus with no approved vaccine or treatment
- Ituri province Region in northeastern DR Congo at the center of the outbreak
- global health emergency WHO's highest alert level for a disease outbreak