Publications

Event description
On 5 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) received an alert regarding an unknown illness with high mortality in Mongbwalu Health Zone (HZ), Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including reports of four health workers who died within four days. Rapid response teams deployed to Mongbwalu and Rwampara HZs conducted investigations, and on 15 May 2026, laboratory testing by the Institut National de la Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) caused by Bundibugyo virus. On the same day, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of DRC officially declared the country’s 17th Ebola disease outbreak, initially affecting Rwampara, Mongbwalu and Bunia HZs. Uganda subsequently confirmed two imported cases on 15 and 16 May 2026. On 16 May 2026, the WHO Director-General determined that the outbreak constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005).