Ebola Outbreak 2026: 1,048 Cases β Second Largest Ever | Virus Watcher
10 Active OutbreaksThe 2026 Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda is now the second largest Ebola outbreak on record. As of June 2026, there are 1,048 confirmed cases and 267 confirmed deaths. WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in May 2026. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine and no specific treatment, making this one of the most dangerous active outbreaks in years.
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What is Ebola?
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is caused by several strains of the Ebola virus. The current 2026 outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain β distinct from the Zaire strain that ERVEBO vaccine protects against, meaning there is NO approved vaccine for this outbreak. As of May 2026, 836 suspected cases and 186 deaths have been reported across 11 health zones in DRC's Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces, with cases crossing into Uganda (Kampala). WHO has declared this a PHEIC β the highest global health alarm β and the CDC has issued entry restrictions for travelers from affected countries.
Symptoms
- Sudden fever and severe fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
- Severe headache
- Sore throat
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
- Rash
Transmission
Direct contact with blood or body fluids of infected people/animals; contaminated objects; infected bushmeat. Not airborne. Only contagious when symptomatic.
Contagious Period: From symptom onset until virus is no longer in blood/body fluids; can persist in semen up to 12 months
Prevention
- ERVEBO vaccine for outbreak response and high-risk individuals
- Avoid contact with blood and body fluids
- Don't handle items touched by infected person
- Avoid funeral/burial rituals involving contact with deceased
- Avoid bushmeat in outbreak areas
- Healthcare workers: strict PPE and infection control
- Isolate suspected/confirmed cases
- Contact tracing and monitoring
- Safe burial practices
Live Ebola Global Case Map
2 countries with reported activity. Updated from real-time surveillance data.
United States β State Detail
1 state with reported activity. Click a state for detailed surveillance.
Active Outbreaks & Recent Cases
Real-time intelligence from global health monitoring and AI-powered surveillance
Data sources: BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies
β Live data updated in real-time from global health sources
As schools re-open, Congo drops remote learning plan in Ebola red zone
BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Schools reopened this week in areas of Democratic Republic of Congo hardest hit by Ebola, after authorities decided the risk of transmission was outweighed by the risk of pupils struggling with remote learning, an official told Reuters on Wednesday.
The death toll from the outbreak - the worst in Congo's long history with the disease - has exceeded 3,000, according to government data published on Wednesday, with cases spread across six provi
π° 21 news sources reporting on this story.
Ebola Outbreak: 5 Challenges Congo Faces In Containing The Crisis
Contact tracing covers only 19% of expected contacts from recent confirmed cases
Authorities in eastern Congo are shifting to a village-centered approach to fight the Ebola outbreak, Africa's top public health agency said Thursday, as the virus continues to spread faster than efforts to track and contain it. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the outbreak has likely not yet peaked. Since it was declared in mid-May, it has spread from three health zones to 60, with 6,250 c
π° 210 news sources reporting on this story.
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β οΈ Ebola Cases Cross 6,000 In Congo; Nearly 3,000 Deaths Reported
Ebola cases in Congo have surpassed 6,000, with nearly 3,000 deaths reported, as a new academic year begins amidst ongoing public health concerns. The outbreak continues to pose significant risks, particularly to children in the epicenter.
π 260 news sources reporting on this story.
First reported: 2026-08-31
Canada extends Ebola travel restrictions for another 30 days
Government officials say people from Ebola-affected countries will continue to be banned from entering Canada for another 30 days, prolonging the state of limbo for tens of thousands of people who have had their residency applications suspended since May.
The extension means decisions on immigration and visa applications from residents of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan will remain on hold until Sept. 28. People from those countries who already hold valid visas will also
π° 100 news sources reporting on this story.
Ebola Cases Cross 6,000 In Congo; Nearly 3,000 Deaths Reported
Outbreak spreads amid insecurity, displacement, health worker strikes, and movement
Congo's authorities said Monday that the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has topped 6,000 cases with 2,911 deaths. More than 1,360 people have recovered from the virus, in what authorities said was an "encouraging" development. The outbreak in eastern Congo is spreading under extremely difficult conditions, fueled by insecurity, displacement, a health workers' strike and intense population movements. Th
π° 62 news sources reporting on this story.
Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo spreads to 2 new health zones; 60 total areas affected
The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak has now affected sixty health zones in eastern Congo. Two new zones, Biena and Manguredjipa, are now experiencing the outbreak. These areas show a higher case fatality rate than the overall average. The outbreak has recorded five thousand seven hundred ninety-four confirmed cases and two thousand seven hundred eighty-six deaths. This epidemic is spreading faster than containment and tracking efforts can manage.
Bunia, Congo: The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak i
π° 54 news sources reporting on this story.
Ebola Vaccine Rollout Begins In DR Congo Amid Continuing Outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo is distributing 70,000 doses of an Ebola vaccine in an attempt to curb the devastating outbreak. Congo's outbreak has become the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic ever recorded. More than 5,700 confirmed infections and nearly 2,800 deaths had been reported by August 28. The speed of transmission has raised concerns that the outbreak could eventually surpass the 2014-2016 West African Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people.
Ervebo, the vaccine being dis
π° 25 news sources reporting on this story.
Fifth Ebola Vaccine Candidate Joins Race Against Congo Outbreak
Efforts to develop a vaccine against the strain of Ebola driving the deadly outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo are expanding, with an experimental shot developed by an Egypt-based pharmaceutical company set to advance toward human testing.
Minapharm Group will receive as much as $16.5 million to move its Bundibugyo Ebola virus vaccine through preclinical development and into an early-stage clinical trial expected to take place in Africa, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
π° 17 news sources reporting on this story.
US gives Uganda drugs for Ebola preparedness
US said the donation would help Uganda respond quickly to potential cases and strengthen health security in both countries.
The United States government has donated a monoclonal antibody treatment to Uganda to strengthen the country's preparedness against Ebola as an outbreak of the disease continues in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The treatment, MBP134, was handed over to the Ministry of Health at National Medical Stores on Wednesday.
Minister of State for Health (Primary Health
π° 14 news sources reporting on this story.
The Ebola outbreak: 'a perfect storm'
This has been the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease ever, but the silence around it is 'astounding'
Over 100 days into the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), "the response is still struggling to keep pace", said Liz Cookman in The Independent. It's estimated that more than 2,500 people have now died, with the death toll accelerating sharply in recent weeks.
It is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, spreading much quicker than the deadliest crisis to date,
Don't find out from the news. Track this outbreak and 200+ diseases in real time.
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CDC
Official guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
View CDC Resources βWHO
Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization
View WHO Resources βMedically Reviewed Content
Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-04
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