Ituri Ebola Outbreak 2026 (DRC) – Summary Overview of Context

On 15 May 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) in Ituri province. This is the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak but already one of the most severe with inter-provincial and cross-border spread. The Director General of WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May. On 26 May, the Ministry of Health in DRC reported a total of 121 confirmed cases (including 17 deaths) and 1,077 suspected cases (including 238 deaths) in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. Uganda has reported seven confirmed cases, including one death. Three of these cases are linked to travel from DRC.

This summary note details relevant contextual factors in Ituri Province, with a focus on three of the currently most a ected health zones: Mongwalu, Bunia and Rwampara. Health zones are the main administrative units of the DRC health system; there are 519 nationally and 36 in Ituri province. Mongwalu is a semi-rural area with artisanal mining sites, Bunia is the provincial capital, and Rwampara is a health zone on the outskirts of Bunia.