Ebola

An Ebola outbreak was confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Uganda in May 2026. The Bundibugyo species of Ebola involved is one for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment, though work is ongoing to test promising candidates. The outbreak is occurring in a challenging context: humanitarian crisis and a remote and densely populated area, combined with insecurity and high population and trade movements. WHO is scaling up support to the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, strengthening surveillance, contact tracing, clinical preparedness and management, delivery of supplies and community engagement, and cross-border preparedness. Community engagement will be key. It is only when communities are engaged in the response that such outbreaks are bought under control.