An Ebola outbreak centred in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has become the second-largest on record and has now spread beyond Africa’s borders for the first time, with a confirmed case reported in France. Health authorities worldwide are watching closely, in part because the strain driving the outbreak is one for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists.
What Happened
As of 22 June, the DRC had confirmed more than 1,000 cases, making this Ebola outbreak the second largest on record. This is the 17th outbreak of Ebola in DRC, and the number of cases has risen faster for this outbreak than any other Ebola outbreak to date.
As of 24 June, the DRC Ministry of Health reported a total of 1,118 confirmed cases, including 291 confirmed deaths, with 408 individuals hospitalised in isolation.
On 24 June, France confirmed its first case after a doctor who had been in the DRC on a humanitarian mission returned to France. The case marks the first confirmed Ebola infection on European soil linked to this outbreak.
Why It Matters — The Bundibugyo Problem
This outbreak is complicated by the specific nature of the virus involved. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, and unlike for Ebola-Zaire strains, there are currently no approved Bundibugyo-specific therapeutics or vaccines.
The Bundibugyo virus was discovered in western Uganda less than 20 years ago. This is only the third time Bundibugyo has been the cause of an identified outbreak. Experimental vaccines have been tested in macaques, but none has been approved for human use. A study suggests that Ervebo, the vaccine approved for the Zaire strain, may be partially effective against Bundibugyo, but the WHO has judged this evidence insufficient and has recommended against its use in the current outbreak.
On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Context and Background
The outbreak began in difficult terrain. The epicentre of the outbreak is in Mongbwalu, a poor gold-mining town of 130,000 people in Ituri province, in eastern Congo.
The outbreak is believed to have started as early as January or February, with investigators suggesting that the funeral of a pastor from Mongbwalu on 4 February served as an early superspreader event, as the corpse was handled by family members. Nearly 50 people later died with Ebola-like symptoms after the funeral.
The outbreak began in Ituri, an area that has seen a recent resurgence of a decades-old ethnic conflict. Large-scale refugee movements, cross-border travel, and mining-related mobility have complicated efforts to trace contacts.
Deep mistrust among some communities in the area has also hampered response efforts. Angry crowds attacked Mongbwalu’s only hospital several times, and one patient isolation tent was burned down before soldiers dispersed protesters.
Geographic Spread
Ituri is the most affected province, with over 1,020 confirmed cases across 22 health zones. In North Kivu, 95 confirmed cases have been reported from 11 health zones, and in South Kivu, three cases from one health zone.
Uganda declared its own Ebola outbreak on 15 May, and closed its borders with DRC for at least four weeks after reporting seven cases and one death. The two confirmed Ugandan cases were admitted to intensive care units in Kampala.
Expert Insight
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said the “speed and scale” of the outbreak is causing concern about potential spread to other areas or countries, partly because the area is a mining zone with “high levels of population movement.”
The world’s deadliest Ebola outbreak, in 2014 in West Africa, killed more than 11,300 people and took almost two years to control. That epidemic was caused by the Zaire strain, and had the benefit of a vaccine response that this outbreak does not.
The CDC has assessed the risk to the US public over the next three months as low, noting the limited likelihood of Bundibugyo virus spreading from DRC to the United States given existing public health infrastructure. However, the CDC acknowledged that it is possible for travellers from affected areas to enter the United States, and has raised awareness among healthcare workers and public health departments.
What Happens Next
International donors have pledged $500 million to the Ebola response, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the lack of a licensed vaccine means authorities are relying primarily on contact tracing, isolation, and supportive care.
The confirmation of a case in France will intensify pressure on European governments to review airport screening measures and health preparedness protocols. The ECDC has called on EU member states to continue investing in preparedness and has issued guidance for healthcare professionals across the continent.
For now, the outbreak remains centred in DRC — but the pace of case growth, the absence of a vaccine, and the mobility of affected populations mean global health officials have few grounds for complacency.
