Congo-Uganda Ebola Cases Jump 38% to 894 as Death Toll Tops 200
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 19
Congo-Uganda Ebola Cases Jump 38% to 894 as Death Toll Tops 200
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 19
Summary
894 confirmed Ebola cases and more than 200 deaths have been recorded in the first month of the Congo-Uganda outbreak, which Africa CDC called the worst known at this stage.
The Bundibugyo strain has driven the surge, rising 38% in a week across 32 health zones after early cases were not tested for a virus with no approved vaccine or treatment.
Ituri province accounts for more than 90% of cases, but contact tracing is badly lagging: only about 4,000 of an estimated 17,000 to 35,000 contacts are being monitored.
Conflict, mass displacement and mobile mining populations are hampering the response, while Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths linked to cross-border spread.
Only $90 million of more than $900 million pledged has been released, and Africa CDC has 84 of the 540 personnel it says are needed to contain the outbreak.
A deadly Ebola strain spreads through conflict zones with no vaccine. How close is the world to another health emergency?
With no vaccine for this deadly Ebola strain, can community trust alone stop the outbreak before it spreads globally?
Bundibugyo Ebola Crisis 2026: DRC Reports 875 Cases, 200 Deaths as Response Faces Major Challenges
Overview
The Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak, declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda in May 2026, has rapidly escalated into a major public health emergency. The DRC faces the highest impact, with hundreds of confirmed cases and deaths, and the outbreak continues to spread across provinces. Uganda’s cases are directly linked to cross-border transmission, highlighting the regional risk. The crisis is made worse by the lack of targeted vaccines or treatments, ongoing conflict, and operational barriers that hinder response efforts. Frontline health workers remain at high risk, and urgent international action is underway to develop medical countermeasures and support affected communities.