Ebola disease in DRC and Uganda

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed an outbreak of Ebola disease (EBOD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with imported cases in Uganda and declared this a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)

On 5 May 2026, WHO was alerted to an outbreak of an unknown illness with a high mortality rate in Mongbwalu Health Zone, Ituri Province. Following investigation and testing from rapid response teams, the cause of this outbreak was confirmed to be Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) due to Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) (Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense), a species of Ebola virus [1].

On 15 May 2026, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare officially declared the 17th Ebola disease outbreak in the DRC, occurring in Rwampara, Mongbwalu and Bunia Health Zones (HZ) [2].

As of 15 May, a total of 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths (four deaths among confirmed cases) have been reported from three HZ: Rwampara (six health areas affected), Mongbwalu (three health areas affected), and Bunia. Additional clusters of community deaths with similar symptoms are being investigated across locations in Ituri and North Kivu [1].

On 15 May 2026, the Ministry of Health of Uganda confirmed an outbreak of BVD following the identification of an imported case from the DRC. A second imported case was confirmed on 16 May in Kampala, in an individual returning from DRC with no apparent links to the first case. No local transmission has currently been identified in Uganda [3].

On 17 May 2026, WHO announced that under International Health Regulations (2015) this outbreak of BVD was now classed as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) [4].

There are four species of Ebola virus which are known to cause disease in humans [5]. Both DRC and Uganda have previously reported outbreaks of Ebola in 2025 [6, 7].

EBOD is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus can be spread from person to person through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected persons. People can also become infected through contact with objects, such as contaminated needles or soiled clothing that have been contaminated with body fluids from people infected with the virus. Burial practices that involve direct contact with the body or bodily fluids of an infected person who has died of EBOD may also contribute to transmission, particularly when mourners touch or wash the body, which may still carry high levels of the Ebola virus [8, 9]. Ebola can also be introduced into the human population through contact with the blood, organs and other bodily fluids of infected wild animals such as fruit bats, forest antelopes, chimpanzees and gorillas.

Where there are insufficient infection prevention and control measures, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), healthcare workers or those caring for infected individuals at home are at risk of infection through close contact with EBOD patients. Sexual transmission has also been documented, and the virus can be present in semen for many months after recovery [5].

The WHO have advised DRC to implement exit screening of all persons at international airports, seaports and major land crossings, for unexplained febrile illness consistent with potential Bundibugyo virus disease [1].

Country-specific information can be found on our Country Information pages and Outbreak Surveillance section.

Advice for travellers

Before you travel

If you are travelling to any affected country, check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice before you go. Remember to check entry requirements for any other countries you plan to visit, as enhanced screening measures may be put in place at some borders.

Ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation cover.

Destination-specific travel health advice can be found on TravelHealthPro's Country Information pages including malaria advice.

There are no licensed vaccine or specific therapeutic treatments against BDBV [1].

Travellers should check our Outbreak Surveillance information, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and FCDO for latest updates on EBOD outbreaks.

Make an appointment with your GP, practice nurse, a travel clinic or a pharmacy offering travel services for malaria prevention tablets and to check you are in-date for all recommended travel and routine UK vaccines, including MMR or MMRV and polio, diphtheria and tetanus vaccines. This is particularly important if you have any ongoing medical conditions.

Even if time is short, last-minute advice is still helpful – some vaccines and malaria tablets can be given just before travel.

While you are away

For tourists and other leisure travellers to the DRC, precautions should be followed to prevent infection. These include:

• avoiding contact with symptomatic patients/their bodily fluids, corpses and/or bodily fluids from deceased patients, and all wild animals, alive and dead
• avoiding handling or eating bush/wild meat (the meat of wild or feral mammals killed for food)
• washing hands regularly and carefully using soap and water (or alcohol gel when soap is unavailable)
• practising safer sex (using barrier contraception)

Travellers experiencing symptoms abroad should seek local medical advice as soon as possible and contact their travel insurance provider.

Remember other infections such as malaria are a risk in these countries. Take rigorous mosquito bite precautions and antimalarials as recommended. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop.

When you return

Get medical advice if you become ill within 21 days of returning home. Call NHS 111 or contact your GP by phone. Although it is very unlikely you have EBOD, you should mention your dates and itinerary of travel and any potential exposure to the virus.

Other infectious diseases like malaria are present in the DRC and Uganda. You should be aware of the signs and symptoms of malaria and should seek immediate medical attention if these occur either while you are abroad or up to a year after you return to the UK.

Advice for humanitarian and other workers

If you are travelling to the DRC or Uganda, or are already working in these countries, follow the advice from your deploying organisation.

The risk to UK humanitarian or aid workers in the affected areas in the DRC is likely to be higher than for tourists or travellers in other areas of the DRC.

The exposure risk for those working directly with individuals with EBOD can be mitigated by safe systems of work, and the trained use of appropriate and readily available personal protective equipment (see ACDP guidance).

Make sure you are familiar with your deploying organisation's risk assessment and guidance regarding EBOD. This should include their EBOD mitigation strategy for workers, any appropriate training, and the protective measures they have in place, including PPE provision, at your destination. If you are working in affected areas, the risk will vary, depending on your activities. If you are working with infected individuals, strict barrier techniques should be implemented, and you should be provided with, and trained in, the use of PPE [10].

Organisations deploying individuals to affected areas where they might be directly exposed to Ebola virus through their work (for example humanitarian and healthcare organisations) should register with UKHSA's Returning Workers Scheme (RWS).

This outbreak is being closely monitored, and the risk will be re-evaluated if the epidemiological situation changes. Travellers should monitor NaTHNaC and FCDO updates on a regular basis for more information.