Ebola in DRC and Kenya: What the Bundibugyo Outbreak Means

DR Congo is fighting the largest Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak ever recorded. As of 20 October 2026, it had reported 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths across eight provinces, according to WHO's 23 October Disease Outbreak News. Kenya has a cluster of nine cases linked to one imported patient. Nigeria has one.

Unlike the familiar Zaire species, Bundibugyo has no licensed vaccine and no approved treatment.

How big is the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in 2026?

It is the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, behind West Africa in 2014 to 2016. CDC's situation summary, updated 24 October, counts 9,816 confirmed cases and 4,757 deaths in DRC as of 22 October. Both agencies count confirmed cases only.

Ituri province has 7,040 cases and North Kivu 2,146. Of 482 deaths reported between 8 and 20 October, 307 happened in the community rather than in a treatment center. Contact follow-up stood at 79.7%, against a 95% target.

What is happening in Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria?

Kenya's first case was confirmed on 6 October: a Kenyan living in DRC who traveled by road to Kampala, flew to Nairobi on 3 October and died two days later. By 20 October, WHO counted eight more cases, all among his contacts: four relatives and four health and care workers. There is no sign of spread beyond that cluster.

Uganda had 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. WHO and Africa CDC declared its outbreak over on 27 August after 42 days without a new case. ECDC's week 42 summary says 25 August; we use WHO's date.

Nigeria confirmed an imported case in Abuja on 20 October. WHO says the patient traveled from Uganda, but the source of infection is still under investigation. Forty-four contacts are being monitored.

Is it still a PHEIC, and does WHO back travel bans?

Yes. A PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) was declared on 17 May 2026, and the second Emergency Committee on 18 August found it still met the criteria. The committee named insecurity, eroding trust and dwindling funding as the main obstacles.

WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, affected countries. The US goes further anyway: per CDC, anyone who has been in DRC in the past 21 days cannot board a commercial flight to the US. Our explainer on what a PHEIC can and cannot do covers why WHO can recommend but not enforce.

Is there a vaccine or treatment yet?

Not a proven one. A phase 2/3 ring vaccination trial called Tumaini vaccinated its first participant in Bunia on 23 October, testing candidate vaccines in contacts of cases. A WHO-sponsored treatment trial has tested the antibody MBP134 and the antiviral remdesivir since July.

What does this mean if you live outside Africa?

Your risk is low. ECDC's week 42 threats report rates the likelihood of infection for people living in the EU/EEA as very low, and UKHSA and CDC call the risk to their populations low. Ebola spreads through direct contact with a sick person's body fluids, not by being near them.

Aid and health workers are the exception; several have been evacuated to Europe. Exit checks and airport health screening remain part of the response.

If you must go to DRC, read CDC's travel notice (Ituri and North Kivu are at Level 4, avoid all travel) and see a travel clinic first. If you get a fever within 21 days of leaving, phone a doctor before turning up. In the UK, call NHS 111.

The PandemicAlarm map rates the outbreak severity 4. Our history of Ebola outbreaks shows how earlier epidemics ended.