On May 15, an outbreak of Ebola was declared by the Ministry of Public Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Soon thereafter, a case was confirmed in Uganda—meaning the deadly disease had already crossed international borders. On May 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, signaling the potential for global consequences.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo (boon-dee-BOO-joh) strain, for which there are no vaccines or therapeutic treatments, raising significant health concerns amid conflict and limited access to healthcare in the region’s countries.
With support from the US Department of State and other partners, International Medical Corps has sent rapid response teams to procure critical supplies and provide the medical care and training needed to fight this dangerous disease. Below, we answer key questions about the current outbreak—what it is, where it’s spreading, and how we’re helping to save lives, protect communities and prevent further transmission.
What Is Ebola?
Ebola virus disease is a rare and often-fatal viral hemorrhagic fever caused by a group of viruses found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. It was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola river in what was then the Republic of Zaire (now the DRC). Outbreaks have occurred periodically since then, killing thousands.
Ebola aggressively targets the immune system and can trigger excessive inflammation that damages blood vessels, leading to vascular leakage, internal bleeding and multi-organ failure.
Sickness begins when the virus passes from animals—likely fruit bats or other wildlife—to humans, and then spreads from person to person. Though outbreaks can be deadly, they can be contained through strong public health measures, including early detection, isolation, proper hygiene and treatment, and community engagement.
What Strain of Ebola Is This?
The current outbreak in the DRC and Uganda is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a relatively rare type of Ebola that has only been identified in a small number of past outbreaks.
The Bundibugyo strain poses unique challenges because there are currently no vaccines or targeted treatments for it. In addition, standard rapid tests are optimized for the more common Zaire strain, which complicates early detection, confirmation and response. Though it may have a somewhat lower fatality rate than some other strains, it is just as dangerous, because it can go undetected for longer, spread quickly and cause widespread, severe illness and death—making rapid response and supportive care critical.
What Are the Symptoms of Ebola?
Ebola symptoms typically appear two to 21 days after exposure. Early symptoms include:
- fever;
- fatigue;
- muscle pain; and
- headache.
Advanced symptoms include:
- vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- bleeding; and
- severe weakness.
Because early symptoms can resemble other common illnesses such as influenza or malaria, Ebola can be difficult to detect at first. This makes early testing, isolation and access to care essential to improving survival and limiting spread.
How Does Ebola Spread?
Though it does not spread through the air like some infectious diseases, Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids—including blood, sweat, saliva, vomit, semen or vaginal fluids—of someone who is infected. It can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or materials, including the clothing or bedding of someone who is infected.
Those at highest risk include caregivers, health workers and family members who have close, unprotected contact with infected individuals. At the start of this outbreak, detection was delayed because the low-tech testing equipment found in most local clinics was calibrated to detect the Zaire strain of the virus, rather than the Bundibugyo strain, which is why it spread so quickly. Lack of detection delays containment efforts, and thus contributes to rapid spread. This is one reason why International Medical Corps rapidly sets up screening and referral units, or SRUs, as part of our responses.
What Is the Treatment for Ebola?
There is no cure for Ebola, but early supportive care can significantly improve survival. Treatment typically includes rehydration, symptom management and care for complications such as infections or organ failure.
Access to timely medical care is critical. In outbreak settings, specialized Ebola Treatment Centers, or ETCs, are set up to isolate patients, provide supportive care, and protect health workers and communities from further transmission.
Is There a Vaccine for Ebola?
Vaccines exist for some types of Ebola, particularly the Zaire strain, which has caused large past outbreaks—including the largest outbreak in history. However, there is no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, which is driving the current outbreak.
Researchers and global health partners are working to identify and test potential vaccines. In the meantime, outbreak control relies on public health measures such as surveillance, infection prevention and community awareness.
Where Is the Current Ebola Outbreak?
The current outbreak was confirmed in May 2026 in Ituri province in northeastern DRC, an area already affected by conflict and limited access to health services. Cases have also been reported in nearby areas, including parts of North Kivu and South Kivu, as well as in Uganda. The situation remains dynamic, as health teams continue work to identify and contain transmission.
Is This Ebola Outbreak Spreading to Other Countries?
Because the outbreak appears to have spread for several weeks before being recognized, the current caseload may underestimate the true scale of transmission. In the DRC, ongoing conflict—which causes displacement and population movement—and porous borders with Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda all increase the risk of further spread of the disease. In addition, cases have been confirmed in Uganda among people who traveled from the DRC.
Given the potential for significant spread, the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, requiring a coordinated response. However, though cross-border regional spread is possible, the global risk remains low, given that Ebola requires close physical contact for transmission. If there is a well-coordinated public health response by government agencies, medical experts and humanitarian organizations, outbreaks can be contained.
What Is Being Done to Control It?
International and national authorities, local health agencies and workers, and international humanitarian partners, such as International Medical Corps, are working together to contain this outbreak through a proven set of interventions, including:
- surveillance;
- infection prevention and control measures, including providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and training;
- rapid identification and isolation of cases;
- contact tracing of family members or others who may have been exposed;
- case management;
- safe and dignified burials;
- community engagement and risk communication; and
- establishing SRUs and ETCs.
These efforts are essential to stopping transmission and protecting affected communities and neighboring regions.
How Dangerous Is This Outbreak? Is This a New Pandemic Risk?
Ebola is a serious and often deadly disease, with fatality rates varying widely depending on the strain and access to care. The Bundibugyo strain has historically had mortality rates ranging from about 30% to 50%.
Though the current outbreak is concerning—especially given the lack of a vaccine—it is not considered a pandemic risk. Ebola spreads through direct contact rather than through the air, which makes it easier to contain with well-coordinated and funded public health measures.
Why Are There So Many Outbreaks in the DRC?
The DRC has experienced more Ebola outbreaks than any other country, due in part to its ecology, health-system challenges and ongoing humanitarian crises. The virus is believed to circulate in wildlife in the region, leading to repeated spillover events into human populations.
Outbreak response can also be complicated by factors such as conflict, population movement and displacement, and limited access to healthcare—conditions that make it harder to detect and contain cases quickly.
How Does This Compare to Past Outbreaks?
This is the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC since 1976, reflecting how frequently the virus re-emerges in the region.
Though the current outbreak is smaller than the 2014–2015 West Africa epidemic, it is still serious—particularly because it involves a rarer strain with no approved vaccine and is occurring in a complex humanitarian context—and currently ranks as the third-largest in history.
Learn more about International Medical Corps’ response to the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC.