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Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo – By Prime Brief Media
The Ebola outbreak tearing through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has escalated sharply, with the World Health Organisation raising its national risk assessment to "very high" and confirming that the epidemic is significantly larger than official figures suggest.
As of 22 May, 2026, the DRC has recorded nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths, according to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Only 82 cases have been laboratory confirmed, with seven confirmed deaths. The wide gap between suspected and confirmed cases reflects severely limited testing capacity in a region ravaged by conflict, displacement, and chronic underdevelopment.
The outbreak, which authorities officially declared on 15 May, is the country's 17th since the Ebola virus was first identified in 1976. It is centred in the eastern province of Ituri particularly the towns of Bunia, Mongwalu, Rwampara, and Nyakunde, but has since spread to North Kivu province, including the major city of Goma, and to South Kivu province.
The outbreak has crossed into neighbouring Uganda, where two cases have been confirmed in Kampala, including one death. Both Ugandan cases had travelled from the DRC. Ugandan authorities have cancelled the Martyrs' Day commemoration and intensified contact tracing.
A rare and dangerous strain
This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus — a species that has only been recorded twice before, in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there are currently no approved vaccines or therapeutics for Bundibugyo. Existing Zaire-strain vaccines may offer partial protection, but their effectiveness against this strain is unproven.
The absence of a proven vaccine has forced health authorities to rely heavily on traditional outbreak control measures: rapid surveillance, contact tracing, testing, infection prevention and control in health facilities, supportive clinical care, and community engagement.
At least four healthcare workers have died in the affected area, underscoring the high risk of transmission within health facilities. The International Medical Corps reports that infection prevention and control readiness remains critically low, with severe shortages of personal protective equipment, isolation space, and sample transport capacity.
A perfect storm
The outbreak is unfolding in one of the world's most challenging humanitarian environments. Ituri and North Kivu provinces are plagued by ongoing armed conflict, with intensified fighting in recent months displacing more than 100,000 people. Across both provinces, approximately 4 million people need urgent humanitarian assistance, 2 million are internally displaced, and 10 million face acute hunger.
The porous borders between the DRC, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Burundi heighten the risk of cross-border spread. The International Rescue Committee warned that severe health funding cuts in eastern DRC contributed to delayed detection, with suspected cases rising from 246 to over 500 in just 96 hours.
Distrust of outside authorities remains a major obstacle. On Thursday, a security incident occurred at a hospital in Ituri, where tents and medical supplies were set on fire. Earlier, residents in Rwampara town torched an Ebola treatment centre and clashed with police while attempting to recover the body of a victim.
International response
The WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 16 May and has deployed 22 international staff to the field, released 3.9 million from its contingency Fund for Emergencies, and secured 60 million allocation from the UN humanitarian chief.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is establishing a continental Incident Management Support Team. The WHO's R&D Blueprint has recommended prioritising two monoclonal antibodies for clinical trials and evaluating the antiviral obeldesivir as post-exposure prophylaxis.
The United States has issued an order suspending entry of certain persons from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan who have been in those countries within the past 21 days. The CDC has elevated its DRC travel notice to Level 3, recommending against all non-essential travel to Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
An American national working in the DRC has been confirmed positive and transferred to Germany for care. A second American identified as a high-risk contact has been moved to the Czech Republic.
Nigeria's response
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in the country. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said enhanced preparedness measures have been activated, including heightened surveillance at all international airports, seaports, and land border crossings.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has directed airlines and airport operators to intensify public health surveillance, while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has activated emergency response protocols. Over 34,500 travellers have been screened at points of entry, according to official figures.
Prof. Pate urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid spreading misinformation, and observe preventive measures including regular hand hygiene. He advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as sudden fever, severe fatigue, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding to report immediately to the nearest health facility.
The WHO has stressed that while the risk at the national level in the DRC is "very high" and "high" at the regional level, it remains "low" at the global level.
Prime Brief Media will continue to monitor public health developments and report as the situation evolves.
#Ebola #DRCongo #WHO #PublicHealth #NigeriaHealth #Bundibugyo #PrimeBriefMedia
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