Ebola Outbreak 2026: 1,048 Cases β Second Largest Ever | Virus Watcher
10 Active OutbreaksThe 2026 Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda is now the second largest Ebola outbreak on record. As of June 2026, there are 1,048 confirmed cases and 267 confirmed deaths. WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in May 2026. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine and no specific treatment, making this one of the most dangerous active outbreaks in years.
Don't find out from the news. Track this outbreak and 200+ diseases in real time.
What is Ebola?
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is caused by several strains of the Ebola virus. The current 2026 outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain β distinct from the Zaire strain that ERVEBO vaccine protects against, meaning there is NO approved vaccine for this outbreak. As of May 2026, 836 suspected cases and 186 deaths have been reported across 11 health zones in DRC's Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces, with cases crossing into Uganda (Kampala). WHO has declared this a PHEIC β the highest global health alarm β and the CDC has issued entry restrictions for travelers from affected countries.
Symptoms
- Sudden fever and severe fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
- Severe headache
- Sore throat
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
- Rash
Transmission
Direct contact with blood or body fluids of infected people/animals; contaminated objects; infected bushmeat. Not airborne. Only contagious when symptomatic.
Contagious Period: From symptom onset until virus is no longer in blood/body fluids; can persist in semen up to 12 months
Prevention
- ERVEBO vaccine for outbreak response and high-risk individuals
- Avoid contact with blood and body fluids
- Don't handle items touched by infected person
- Avoid funeral/burial rituals involving contact with deceased
- Avoid bushmeat in outbreak areas
- Healthcare workers: strict PPE and infection control
- Isolate suspected/confirmed cases
- Contact tracing and monitoring
- Safe burial practices
Live Ebola Global Case Map
2 countries with reported activity. Updated from real-time surveillance data.
United States β State Detail
1 state with reported activity. Click a state for detailed surveillance.
Active Outbreaks & Recent Cases
Real-time intelligence from global health monitoring and AI-powered surveillance
Data sources: BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies
β Live data updated in real-time from global health sources
β οΈ Ebola outbreak 'complicated by lack of resources', Oxfam says
An active Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in over 2,000 deaths. Oxfam warns that the situation is being complicated by a lack of resources due to foreign aid budget cuts.
π 159 news sources reporting on this story.
First reported: 2026-08-13
Ebola outbreak in DR Congo killing one person every 30 minutes, UN says
The Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now killing a victim every 30 minutes, a top UN humanitarian official said Friday, August 14, calling for greater international action. "The outbreak is the fastest growing on record," Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said in a statement. "We need speed, scale and solidarity before this virus gets even further ahead of us."
The outbreak has killed at least 2,128 people out of more than 4,500 confirmed cases sin
π° 47 news sources reporting on this story.
Fastest-growing Ebola outbreak through the eyes of Canadian aid workers
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
TORONTO -- Little pink coffins are sold on the roadside in Bunia, a northeastern city in the Congo, prepared for children who will die of Ebola.
Meghan Thumath, a registered nurse and public health delegate with the Canadian Red Cross, said coffin sellers are as common as fruit stands.
"You can't help to be affected as a health-care provider," Thumath said, her eyes welling up with tears.
More than 2,100 people have died ou
π° 265 news sources reporting on this story.
π Read more at UN News
β οΈ Congo Ebola death toll tops 2,000 in fastest spreading outbreak on record - AOL
Congo's Ebola outbreak has reached a critical stage with over 2,000 confirmed deaths, making it the fastest spreading outbreak on record. Health authorities are grappling with the rapidly escalating public health emergency.
π 397 news sources reporting on this story.
First reported: 2026-08-10
Health officials suspect Ebola in man who returned from DR Congo
A man who recently returned to Israel from the Democratic Republic of Congo is suspected to be suffering from a case of Ebola infection, the Health Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.
Days after returning from the trip, the man sought medical attention when he developed a fever, the ministry said. He was taken to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba and placed in isolation.
The man is undergoing testing, and results are expected within a day, according to the ministry.
The statement stressed t
π° 423 news sources reporting on this story.
π Read more at SAPO
Ebola outbreak 'complicated by lack of resources', Oxfam says
Oxfam aid workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have warned that the latest Ebola outbreak has been exacerbated by cuts to the foreign aid budget.
The current outbreak has killed more than 2,000 people and is on track to surpass the deadliest ever, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Oxford researchers are trying to prevent the spread, and recently began a world-first trial to test a new Ebola vaccine developed in the city.
The BBC has contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth &
π° 87 news sources reporting on this story.
Congo Ebola death toll tops 2,000 in fastest spreading outbreak on record - AOL
Bunia, Congo -- At least 2,000 people have died among the confirmed cases in Congo's Ebola outbreak that is the fastest spreading on record, according to the latest government data, as health authorities struggle to get help quickly to remote localities due to rebel conflict, bad roads and work stoppages over payment issues.
Data published overnight into Tuesday showed the outbreak has recorded a total of 4,381 confirmed cases, including 2,011 deaths.
The grim toll comes nearly three months sin
π° 171 news sources reporting on this story.
Deadly Ebola virus could be mutating after thousands of cases
Fear is growing that the devastating Ebola outbreak could be mutating as cases surge.
The outbreak has been ripping through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for months, leading to a desperate fight against the infection with an extremely high mortality rate.
Over 1,800 people have died in the latest outbreak, and more than 4,000 cases have been logged as of August 5, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.
Now health officials on the continent have raised the alarm over the viru
π° 52 news sources reporting on this story.
West and Central Africa: Latest Events at a glance (28 July-3 August 2026)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Violence, displacement and Ebola compound humanitarian crisis
Reports highlight that continued fighting in the highlands of South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is forcing people to flee their homes and disrupting access to essential services. According to humanitarian partners, clashes in the territories of Uvira, Fizi and Mwenga have displaced more than 48,000 people since mid-July. Civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructu
π° 69 news sources reporting on this story.
Ebola Case Count Set to Increase as Congo Officials Expand Hunt for Hidden Infections
The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo may appear to worsen in the coming weeks as health officials dramatically expand their search for infections that have gone undetected.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and its partners are shifting from conventional contact tracing toward door-to-door case finding in the hardest-hit areas, where widespread community transmission means almost anyone could have been exposed.
The intensified search is expected to increase the num
π° 86 news sources reporting on this story.
Don't find out from the news. Track this outbreak and 200+ diseases in real time.
Expert Resources & References
Trusted information from leading health organizations
CDC
Official guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
View CDC Resources βWHO
Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization
View WHO Resources βMedically Reviewed Content
Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-17
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ebola answered by our epidemiology team
Related Diseases
Track other diseases with similar symptoms or transmission patterns
Get the weekly outbreak digest.
What's active, what's spreading, and what to watch. No spam.
Stay Ahead of Ebola Outbreaks
Don't find out from the news. Track this outbreak and 200+ diseases in real time.
