New York, May 27, 2026 The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is grappling with nearly 1,000 suspected Ebola cases and about 220 suspected deaths, based on data from health authorities and partner agencies as of Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
In neighbouring Uganda, health officials confirmed seven cases connected to the outbreak, among them two healthcare workers, alongside one recorded death.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the Ebola Bundibugyo strain outbreak in Ituri Province is spreading under extremely difficult conditions, with insecurity, attacks on health facilities, and population displacement making it almost impossible to trace contacts and isolate infections.
He warned that ongoing violence is undermining response efforts. “We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling,” he said.
First identified in Uganda in 2007, the Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
The WHO also noted that the outbreak is expanding across borders, with evidence of continued transmission beyond the initial epicentre.
While Ituri Province remains the core of the outbreak, infections have now been recorded in 11 health zones, including areas in North Kivu such as Butembo and Goma, as well as parts of South Kivu, according to UNICEF data.
Health responders say transmission is occurring largely within households and healthcare settings, often linked to caregiving, family gatherings, and unsafe burial practices.
Containment efforts are taking place in a highly unstable region of eastern DRC, where armed groups including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), CODECO militias, and the M23 rebel group continue to operate, severely limiting humanitarian access.
A December 2025 report from the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO documented widespread violence in Ituri and North Kivu, including repeated attacks on villages, health centres, and displacement camps that left hundreds dead and forced large-scale population movements.
Ongoing clashes and restrictions imposed by armed groups have further disrupted humanitarian operations, restricted civilian movement, and limited access to basic services, deepening an already critical crisis.
Food insecurity has also worsened the situation. According to the latest IPC assessment, nearly 10 million people across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika are facing acute hunger between January and June 2026, while 26.5 million people nationwide are experiencing high levels of food insecurity.
“Hunger and disease are old companions,” Ghebreyesus said, adding that malnutrition increases vulnerability to infections.
WHO further stated that insecurity, poor infrastructure, and ongoing conflict are hampering aid delivery and restricting access to affected communities. Many health facilities are either non-operational or functioning under severe pressure, while damaged roads continue to delay the movement of relief materials.
The organization is leading a coordinated UN response, deploying emergency teams, medical supplies, and financial support to help contain the outbreak. It is also engaging local leaders in Bunia to strengthen community trust and address misinformation.
Public awareness campaigns and health messages are being adapted to local contexts and translated into local languages to improve outreach.
According to WHO Community Engagement Officer Julienne Ngoundoung Anoko, trust remains essential to controlling the outbreak, noting that response measures are unlikely to succeed without community cooperation.
Ghebreyesus also called for an immediate halt to hostilities to allow safe humanitarian access to affected areas, stressing that controlling the outbreak depends on uninterrupted medical and relief operations