June 2026

Summary:

• • • Outbreak declared PHEIC: On 17 May 2026, the WHO declared the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
    • Case counts (as of 12 June 2026): Approximately 695 confirmed cases and 138 deaths; epicentre in Ituri, DRC (629 cases), with additional cases in Nord-Kivu and Uganda (19 cases, 2 deaths).
    • Pathogen: O. bundibugyoense (Bundibugyo ebolavirus) — single-stranded RNA virus (family Filoviridae); estimated case fatality rate 30–50%.
    • No approved countermeasures for BDBV: In contrast to Zaire ebolavirus (Ervebo®, Zabdeno®/Mvabea®), no licensed vaccine or therapy exists; the Oxford Vaccine Group’s ChAdOx1 BDBV is under accelerated development.
    • Experimental treatments under evaluation: WHO supports Remdesivir (antiviral) and MBP134 (antibody cocktail) — pending government approval in DRC and Uganda.
    • Diagnostic criteria: Lab workup indicated for travellers from endemic areas within the last 3 weeks with EVD-compatible symptoms (fever ≥ 38.6 °C, unexplained bleeding, multi-organ failure, etc.); sample processing restricted to BSL-4 facilities; Austrian suspected cases via AGES.
    • EU/EEA risk: Very low for the general public; high for healthcare and aid workers with direct patient or decedent contact.

Update Ebolavirus

Current Situation

On 17 May 2026, the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). As of 12 June 2026, approximately 695 confirmed cases and 138 deaths have been recorded across both countries, with the DRC — accounting for 676 confirmed cases, 629 of which are in Ituri — forming the epicentre.

In addition to Ituri, Nord-Kivu (44 cases) and Süd-Kivu (3 cases) are also affected. Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases to date, including two deaths. The WHO rates the risk as high at the national and regional level, but low globally.

The outbreak began in early May 2026 with several severe illnesses of unknown cause in the Mongbwalu Health Zone in Ituri. The Bundibugyo virus was confirmed on 15 May by the national reference laboratory INRB in Kinshasa. Given the rapid increase in suspected cases and deaths, the WHO believes the actual scale of the outbreak may be larger than currently documented.

Pathogen, Transmission and Mortality

Ebolaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the family Filoviridae and the genus Orthoebolavirus. The clinically most relevant species within this genus are Orthoebolavirus zairense (Zaire ebolavirus), O. sudanense (Sudan ebolavirus), and O. bundibugyoense (Bundibugyo ebolavirus), which differ from one another in their mortality, among other characteristics. The current epidemic is caused by the species O. bundibugyoense.

Current State of Vaccine and Therapy Development

Approved vaccines against Zaire ebolavirus include Ervebo® (rVSV-ZEBOV) and the two-dose regimen Zabdeno®/Mvabea®. In contrast, there is currently no approved vaccine or approved specific treatment for Bundibugyo ebolavirus. However, several investigational vaccine strategies for Bundibugyo ebolavirus are under development, including vector-based approaches such as ChAdOx1 BDBV, as well as mRNA- and VSV-based vaccine candidates.

The WHO is also currently supporting two experimental treatment approaches: the antiviral drug Remdesivir and the antibody cocktail MBP134, whose deployment must still be approved by the governments of the DRC and Uganda.

Diagnostics

An indication for laboratory diagnostic investigation exists for persons who have entered from an EBOV-endemic or epidemic area within the last three weeks, or who have had contact with a confirmed case, and who present with clinical symptoms compatible with Ebola virus disease. These include in particular fever ≥ 38.6 °C in combination with severe headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, unexplained bleeding, or signs of multi-organ failure.

Suspected cases meeting these criteria must be reported immediately in the Epidemiological Reporting System (EMS).

The Ebolavirus is classified as a Risk Group 4 pathogen — the highest biological safety level. Processing of corresponding samples is permitted exclusively in designated high-security laboratories (BSL-4 facilities). Suspected cases from Austria should preferably be investigated within Austria at the AGES (Tel. +43 (0)50 555-37111).

Risk Assessment for the EU/EEA (ECDC)

High risk applies in particular to returnees who worked as healthcare or aid workers or had direct contact with patients or deceased persons. Travellers and EU/EEA residents in the affected areas who follow the recommended precautions face a low risk. The ECDC rates the risk of infection for the general population in Europe as very low.

Sources:

• WHO – Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo & Uganda – Disease Outbreak News DON602/603

• WHO – IHR Emergency Committee regarding the epidemic of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the DRC and Uganda (22 May 2026)

• ECDC – Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda (updated 27 May 2026)

• ECDC – Threat Assessment Brief: Ebola disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus (20 May 2026)

• Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs – Ebola (updated 24 May 2026)

• AGES – AGES-Radar für Infektionskrankheiten (21 May 2026)

• Tropeninstitut Wien – Ebola-Ausbruch 2026

• BMSGPK – Ebola-Notfallplan Austria (PDF)