In Bunia, a city in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a dangerous outbreak has begun. Healthcare workers were the first to fall ill, which helped the disease spread quickly through hospitals and into 17 health zones.
The virus is Ebola, but a rare type called Bundibugyo. Before 2026, only two outbreaks of this strain had been recorded worldwide. This is the third and largest ever.
As of June 8, 2026, there were 598 confirmed cases and 115 deaths in the DRC. The disease has spread to three provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. It has also crossed into Uganda, where 19 cases and 2 deaths have been reported.
The biggest danger is that no vaccine or approved treatment exists for Bundibugyo. The vaccines that ended the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic work against a different strain called Zaire. Three new vaccines are being developed, but none is ready yet.
The situation is more serious because the affected areas have experienced armed conflict and people moving between regions. On May 15, 2026, the DRC officially declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The WHO and Africa CDC launched a response plan costing US$518 million.
Doctors can only provide basic care while waiting for new treatments. For now, finding sick people early and isolating them are the main tools available.