DR Congo: Africa Region | Ebola (BVD) Epidemic Emergency Appeal №: MDRS1007

Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. On 15 May, the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) Kinshasa confirmed an outbreak of the Ebola virus in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The virus, reported to have originated from the Mongbwalu, Bunia, and Rwampara health zones of Ituri province, has been confirmed as the Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD), a severe and often fatal strain. As of 19 May, more than 500 suspected cases, including 130 suspected deaths, have been reported by the Ministry of Health. So far, 33 cases have been confirmed in the DRC. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), due to the risk of further spread within the region, including across borders. Unlike previous outbreaks caused by the Zaire strain, this Bundibugyo strain does not currently have a licensed vaccine or specific targeted treatment, making community-based measures, early detection, supportive healthcare, and prevention efforts more critical than ever. The outbreak appears to have circulated for several weeks (with the first known case dated 24 April 2026) prior to confirmation as Ebola. The early presentation of cases with nonspecific febrile symptoms, common to endemic diseases such as malaria, combined with initial laboratory testing focused on the more common Zaire strain, contributed to delays in identification. As a result, transmission occurred in both community and healthcare settings before targeted control measures were fully implemented. Alongside multiple existing health risks in the eastern DRC, gaps in health practices may contribute to ongoing tr...

Original source: Relief Web