The current Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has expanded to include the Alimbongo health zone in North Kivu. The outbreak remains concentrated in the eastern part of the country.
The current outbreak is the second documented Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the country, after the 2012 outbreak, and the largest Ebola disease outbreak ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo irrespective of virus species. The population at greatest risk of exposure is concentrated in communities living in and moving through the health areas with active transmission.
Ituri Province Epicenter and Maternal Care Crisis
Nearly 63,700 pregnant women live in the affected areas. Fear of contamination, misinformation, and stigma related to Ebola drive many women to avoid health facilities, risking giving birth alone at home.
Led the Ministry of Health delegation in a media briefing following confirmation of Kenya's first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease.The patient, a Kenyan national who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years, travelled to Nairobi after falling… pic.twitter.com/YkKLukOGp0
Rapid recognition of cases, testing and optimized supportive care can reduce mortality, and improve community perceptions and acceptance of health care within the response.
Cross-Border Transmission and Confirmed Cases in Kenya
On 5 October 2026, WHO was informed about a laboratory-confirmed imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in Kenya with travel history from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A sample collected from the patient on 5 October was positive for BDBV at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute Laboratory on the same day. The patient was given supportive treatment but subsequently died. A safe and dignified burial has been conducted. Public health response measures have been initiated in Kenya and Uganda, including contact tracing.
Kenya has confirmed a third case of Bundibugyo virus disease. The patient was already in quarantine at the time of confirmation.
| Date | Jurisdiction | Reported Event |
|---|---|---|
| October 5, 2026 | Kenya | First imported laboratory-confirmed case and patient death |
| October 14, 2026 | Kenya | Second confirmed case involving a 39-year-old male contact |
| October 16, 2026 | Kenya | Third confirmed case identified while in quarantine |
The second case, confirmed on 14 October, involved a 39-year-old man, a contact of the first patient. Placed under surveillance upon the confirmation of the first case, he had presented symptoms (fever, fatigue and joint pain) on 13 October. Public health response measures have been initiated in Kenya and Uganda, including contact tracing.
International Medical Evacuations and Surveillance Pressures
On 1 October, the Netherlands reported the medical evacuation of a healthcare worker who tested positive by PCR for Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the time of reporting, the patient has been undergoing treatment in the Netherlands.
