Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC spreading faster than response

Goma, DRC — May 2026 — A new Ebola outbreak is spreading rapidly across eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has crossed into Uganda, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. HopeAid has launched an emergency response to protect vulnerable communities and support an already overstretched health system.

What is Ebola?

Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The average Ebola case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.

The virus is contracted through direct exposure to bodily fluids from an infected person or a contaminated animal. People are not infectious until they develop symptoms, but Ebola becomes most contagious in the disease's late stages. Initial symptoms include sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and in some cases, bleeding.

The Bundibugyo strain

What makes this outbreak especially alarming is the specific strain of Ebola involved. It's called the Bundibugyo strain, and laboratory analysis indicates that unlike the strains the world has dealt with before, there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved targeted treatment for it.

As of mid-May 2026, health authorities have recorded dozens of deaths and hundreds of suspected cases in the DRC. Two confirmed cases and one death have also been reported in Uganda, both linked to travel from DRC. The outbreak is centered in the volatile eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri — regions where decades of conflict have decimated health infrastructure and made emergency response extraordinarily difficult.

"This is one of the most complex Ebola responses we have ever mounted. The lack of a licensed vaccine for this strain makes our job even harder, but we will not give up."

How is HopeAid responding?

HopeAid has been responding to Ebola outbreaks in this region for years. During the 2018–2020 outbreak in North Kivu — the second largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded — HopeAid worked across more than 70 health facilities in Beni, Mabalako, Butembo, and Goma.

Working alongside Congolese government health authorities who are leading the overall response, HopeAid is currently:

• Distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to health workers who currently have little to none due to funding cuts
• Supporting infection prevention and control measures in over 40 health facilities
• Training community health workers to identify and isolate suspected cases early
• Conducting community awareness campaigns to combat misinformation and reduce stigma
• Providing safe burial support in coordination with local authorities

In Uganda, HopeAid is working with the Ministry of Health on the border to support infection prevention and control activities, strengthen surveillance systems, and coordinate the cross-border response to prevent further spread.

The funding challenge

Despite the urgent need, the Ebola response is critically underfunded. Global aid cuts have left humanitarian organizations struggling to mount an adequate response. Health workers are operating without adequate PPE, laboratories lack testing supplies, and communities do not have access to basic information about how to protect themselves.

Without an immediate scale-up of funding and resources, the outbreak will continue to spread — crossing more borders and putting more lives at risk.

How you can help

HopeAid teams are on the ground in eastern DRC today — getting protective equipment to health workers, sharing life-saving information with communities, and working around the clock to contain this outbreak. Your support makes that work possible.

Donate now to help HopeAid respond to the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda. Every dollar goes directly to life-saving programs that protect communities and stop the spread of this deadly virus.

Tags: Emergency DRC HopeAid Field Stories