Ebola Outbreak 2026: Latest Updates and Response

Current Situation (May 2026)

An Ebola outbreak caused by Zaire ebolavirus was confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2026. As of May 17, 2026, the cumulative count stands at 47 confirmed cases and 31 deaths, giving a case fatality rate of approximately 66%.

The outbreak is centred in eastern DRC, in the same region that experienced the devastating 2018–2020 North Kivu/Ituri outbreak. Three health zones are currently affected.

Response Actions

WHO has deployed a rapid response team and activated emergency protocols. A total of 412 contacts are currently under follow-up, and ring vaccination coverage stands at 87% using the rVSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo) vaccine.

Africa CDC activated its Emergency Operations Centre on May 14, coordinating the continental response and supporting the DRC Ministry of Health with diagnostics and logistics.

MSF has established an Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) in North Kivu with isolation capacity for 20 patients. MSF teams are also conducting community engagement to reduce transmission linked to home care.

Key Challenges

Conflict zone: Parts of eastern DRC remain under active conflict, complicating access for response teams
Community hesitancy: Historical mistrust from previous outbreaks requires intensive community engagement
Healthcare worker safety: 2 healthcare worker infections confirmed; enhanced PPE protocols are in effect

Geographic Spread

The outbreak is currently confined to three health zones in North Kivu province. A separate alert has been issued for the DRC-Uganda border area, with samples from suspected cases sent for testing. No cases confirmed outside DRC as of this writing.

What to Watch

Weekly WHO Situation Reports (published every Thursday)
Africa CDC daily updates
ProMED for early signals from border regions

Data updated May 17, 2026. Source: WHO DON, Africa CDC, MSF field reports.