2026 Ituri Province Ebola epidemic

In May 2026, an epidemic of Ebola disease was reported in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC and only five months after the end of the previous outbreak. Imported cases from Ituri have been reported in North Kivu Province, as well as in Uganda's capital city of Kampala. A case in South Kivu was also reported to be imported from Tshopo province on 21 May. The epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, which may complicate response efforts as existing Ebola treatments are tested against the Zaire ebolavirus. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 16 May 2026. As of 25 May 2026, 1,018 suspected and confirmed cases and at least 234 deaths had been reported. It is considered likely that the true number of infections could considerably exceed the suspected cases.