WHO puts the DR Congo Bundibugyo outbreak at 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths across seven provinces

2 October 2026

The World Health Organization published a Disease Outbreak News update on 25 September 2026 on the outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 23 September 2026, 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths had been reported, a case fatality ratio of 48.1 per cent. The outbreak covers 63 health zones in seven provinces: Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Sud-Ubangi and Tshopo. Ituri remains the worst affected with 6,032 cumulative cases. WHO said the continuously high case fatality ratio, and in particular the continuing high share of deaths occurring in communities rather than in care, shows the seriousness of the disease. WHO assessed the risk as very high within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, high for bordering countries and low at the regional and global levels, noting the spread to previously unaffected areas and the risk of cross-border transmission to South Sudan and other neighbours. There are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease, so the response rests on case isolation, contact tracing and infection prevention and control.