The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak declared in Ituri province in May 2026 has, according to UN reporting, become the largest Ebola outbreak in the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nearly half of confirmed patients have died. There is no approved vaccine or treatment for this species of the virus.
The figures
Primary recordThe World Health Organization reported 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths in the DRC as of September 23, 2026, a crude case-fatality ratio of 48.1 percent. Since WHO's previous update of September 11, the outbreak added 1,133 confirmed cases and 532 deaths and spread to two more health zones (WHO Disease Outbreak News).
Primary recordThe European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, reporting DRC data to September 27, 2026, counted 8,116 confirmed cases, including 3,924 deaths; 817 patients in isolation; and 63 of 167 health zones affected across seven provinces (ECDC). WHO has determined the epidemic in the DRC and Uganda to be a public health emergency of international concern. Vaccine trials are under way (UN News).
Where the cases are (ECDC, data to September 27, 2026)
| Province | Confirmed cases | Deaths | Health zones affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ituri | 6,182 | 2,848 | 28 of 36 |
| North Kivu | 1,541 | 914 | 16 of 34 |
| Haut-Uélé | 335 | 140 | 7 of 13 |
| Tshopo | 43 | 16 | 7 of 23 |
| Bas-Uélé | 10 | 4 | 3 of 11 |
| South Kivu | 3 | 1 | 1 of 34 |
| Sud-Ubangi | 2 | 1 | 1 of 16 |
What officials are saying
ReportedOn September 29, WHO's Dr. Janet Diaz told reporters that transmission is beginning to fall in some areas while case numbers remain high, and that early access to care, including oxygen, strongly affects survival (UN News). Infections in North Kivu reached their highest recorded level in mid-September before declining in the most recent reporting days (UN News). An imported case was confirmed in France in June in a health worker returning from the response, and Uganda has reported linked cases (Africa CDC via GNA).
Why the counts differ
WHO's 7,890 (to September 23) and ECDC's 8,116 (to September 27) are not in conflict; they describe different dates. Ministry of Health situation reports quoted in the press are a third series. This site cites one series per sentence and never blends them.
What it means for clinicians in California
AnalysisU.S. public-health guidance has assessed the risk to the American public as low. In May 2026, CDC restricted entry for foreign nationals recently in affected countries and routed returning U.S. citizens and permanent residents through designated airports for screening and 21-day monitoring; travelers and clinicians should check CDC's current notice for the present status. For a Fresno or Central Valley clinic, the practical rule is unchanged: take a 21-day travel history from any patient with fever, and if exposure is possible, isolate the patient and call the county health department before testing.