Is there an Ebola outbreak right now in 2026?

Yes. As of May 2026, a major Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain is active in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026 — the highest global health alarm level. Over 836 suspected cases and 186 deaths have been confirmed across 11 health zones. Cases have spread to Kampala, Uganda.

Is there a vaccine for the 2026 Ebola outbreak?

No. The current 2026 outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is different from the Zaire strain that the ERVEBO vaccine protects against. There is no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Bundibugyo ebolavirus. Survival depends entirely on early hospitalization and intensive supportive care.

Are there Ebola travel restrictions from the US?

Yes. The CDC has issued travel restrictions requiring that foreign nationals who have been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days must land at designated airports (including Dulles IAD) for screening. The State Department has issued travel advisories against non-essential travel to affected regions. US citizens returning from affected areas should monitor for symptoms for 21 days.

What are the symptoms of Ebola?

Ebola symptoms appear 2-21 days after exposure. Early symptoms: sudden fever (often above 101°F), severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, sore throat, and loss of appetite. Later symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases internal and external bleeding. Seek emergency care immediately if you develop these symptoms after potential exposure.

How does Ebola spread?

Ebola spreads through direct contact with blood or body fluids (sweat, vomit, feces, urine, saliva, breast milk) of a person or animal that is sick with or has died from Ebola, or contaminated objects like needles and bedding. It does NOT spread through air, water, or food. A person infected with Ebola is NOT contagious until symptoms appear.

Can Ebola spread from recovered patients?

Rarely, but yes. The virus can persist in immune-privileged sites (testes, eyes, spinal fluid, breast milk) for months after recovery. Sexual transmission from male survivors has occurred up to one year after recovery. Survivors should use condoms and get regular testing for 12 months.

Rhode Island

Ebola in Rhode Island

The 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 — 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 — the highest global health alarm — 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

Rhode Island Health Resources

Local health department information and state-specific prevention guidance

We're Monitoring Rhode Island

Our AI-powered surveillance continuously monitors Ebola activity across Rhode Island. We track data from state health departments, local hospitals, CDC reports, and 50+ global health sources to provide early warning of emerging threats.

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Rhode Island Health Department

For official state health alerts, vaccination locations, and public health guidance specific to Rhode Island, visit your state health department's website.

→ Rhode Island Department of Health → CDC Ebola Information → CDC Health Topics

Understanding Ebola: Key Questions

Whether you live in Rhode Island or are traveling there, knowing the symptoms, timeline, and when to seek care helps you act quickly if exposure occurs.

When to Seek Care

Seek care if you experience severe dehydration, bloody stools, high fever, or symptoms lasting more than 3 days. Children under 5, adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals should seek care earlier.

Emergency symptoms: Severe dehydration, inability to keep fluids down for 12 or more hours, or neurological symptoms require emergency care.

Expert Resources & References

Trusted information from leading health organizations

CDC

Official guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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WHO

Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization

View WHO Resources →

Research

Latest peer-reviewed research and clinical studies

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Medically 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: 2026-09-01

Recent Ebola Reports

No confirmed cases reported in Rhode Island yet. Here are the latest Ebola reports from our global surveillance network.

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 authorit…

United States · Alaska · 2026-09-01

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 dec…

United States · Alaska · 2026-09-01

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 …

United States · Alaska · 2026-08-29

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 re…

United States · Alaska · 2026-08-29

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…

United States · Alaska · 2026-08-28

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 e…

Uganda · 2026-08-28

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 m…

Uganda · 2026-08-28

Ebola responders were chased with machetes while trying to bury a victim in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the latest attacks on frontline workers struggling to contain an epidemic that's spreading faster than they can respond. Just over 100 days after the outbreak…

United States · Alaska · 2026-08-25

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Common questions about Ebola answered by our epidemiology team

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