Second-Deadliest Ebola Outbreak on Record Surges in Democratic Republic of Congo
A Bundibugyo virus Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the second-deadliest on record, with over 4,200 confirmed cases and nearly 2,000 deaths as of August 8, 2026. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO in May.
Unprecedented Outbreak Scope
CDC is responding to an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. As of 8 August 2026, a total of 4,294 confirmed Ebola disease (Bundibugyo virus) cases, and 1,960 deaths, have now been reported across five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo and Haut-Uele.
Severity and Historical Context
4,053 confirmed cases and 1,850 deaths as of the most recent WHO/Africa CDC reporting (early August 2026) — the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak in history and the largest ever recorded in DRC. The surge in cases positions this outbreak as one of the most severe global health crises currently unfolding, with only the 2013-2016 West African epidemic claiming more lives.
Challenges in Response
The epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, which has complicated response efforts as existing Ebola treatments were certified for a different Ebola species, the Zaire ebolavirus. This mismatch in treatment specificity has hampered clinical effectiveness and forced health authorities to rapidly develop new therapeutic and vaccine strategies.
Global Health Status
To date, no cases of Ebola disease have been confirmed in the United States because of this outbreak. The overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low. However, the outbreak remains a critical international concern, with WHO convening technical advisory groups to coordinate vaccine and treatment development efforts across multiple candidate platforms.