DRC Researchers Sequence 139 Bundibugyo Virus Genomes as Ituri Outbreak Doubles Every 11.7 Days
Updated
Updated · Virological · Jul 9
DRC Researchers Sequence 139 Bundibugyo Virus Genomes as Ituri Outbreak Doubles Every 11.7 Days
3 articles · Updated · Virological · Jul 9
Summary
139 Bundibugyo virus genomes from 16 health zones in Ituri and Nord-Kivu were sequenced from samples collected between May 2 and June 23, giving the clearest genomic picture yet of DRC’s 2026 outbreak.
Phylogenetic analysis estimated the outbreak’s evolutionary rate at about 1.1E-3 substitutions per site per year and traced the most recent common ancestor to mid-March, with a plausible window back to early February.
An exponential-growth model put the outbreak’s doubling time at 11.7 days, while a Skygrid analysis suggested growth may have started slowing in early June, though researchers cautioned that uncertainty is widening.
96 of the sequenced samples came from Bunia and Rwampara—the documented epicenter—while four outlier genomes were removed for further investigation and one sample likely had an incorrect date.
The outbreak, declared on May 15, is DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak and only the third documented outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus species.
As the deadly Bundibugyo virus reaches Europe, how prepared are nations for this new Ebola-like threat?
With a new Ebola strain spreading faster than ever, how can it be stopped without an approved vaccine?
Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda: Over 1,100 Cases, Cross-Border Spread, and Urgent Need for Treatments
Overview
As of July 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing its 17th Ebola outbreak, now driven by the Bundibugyo virus. To tackle the crisis, authorities have rapidly expanded testing capacity from just 30 tests in Kinshasa to over 2,000 daily, thanks to the creation of 10 decentralized laboratories, including a new one in Bunia. These improvements have accelerated diagnosis and enabled a more effective public health response. The outbreak’s cross-border spread to Uganda highlights the urgent need for swift action, as specialized treatments for this rare Ebola strain are still under development.