Ebola outbreak in Congo’s Ituri
A new Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with at least 80 deaths and 246 suspected cases as of May 16, 2026.
Key facts about this outbreak:
Response efforts:
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Health workers are accelerating screening and contact tracing
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Africa CDC reported the outbreak on Friday, May 15, 2026
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Only 13 of 20 blood samples could be fully tested due to insufficient volume
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Uganda confirmed one Ebola death but no local transmission yet
This outbreak is particularly concerning because the Bundibugyo strain lacks approved vaccines, unlike the more common Zaire strain seen in most previous DRC outbreaks.
