The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has crossed the 1,000-case mark, making it officially the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded. Congo's Ministry of Health confirmed Sunday, June 22, 2026, that 1,003 people have been confirmed infected and 254 have died since the outbreak was declared on May 15 — a span of just 38 days. At least 365 patients remain in hospitals or in isolation. Only the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people across multiple countries, was larger.
The CDC confirmed Sunday the same milestone: "As of June 22, DRC has confirmed more than 1,000 cases, making this Ebola outbreak the second largest on record. This is the 17th outbreak of Ebola in DRC; the number of cases has risen faster for this outbreak than any other Ebola outbreak to date."
The ECDC updated its assessment June 22, noting 166 new confirmed cases and 58 new deaths since June 17 alone. In Uganda, 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, have been reported, with 15 of the 20 cases linked to travel from DRC and five from local transmission in Kampala, the capital.
Why the Outbreak Cannot Be Controlled — and What Officials Are Warning
The outbreak is being driven by a combination of failures in contact tracing, armed conflict, and community resistance, any one of which would be serious in isolation. Together, they are allowing the Bundibugyo strain to outpace every response effort deployed to date.
Contact tracing — the critical process of finding and monitoring everyone who may have been exposed — has reached only 55% coverage, the DRC Ministry of Health stated. More than 35,000 people identified as contacts of confirmed cases remain untraced. Authorities have not identified the outbreak's patient zero — the first case — meaning they have no confidence about when or where the outbreak actually began.
"If you want to control an outbreak, especially Ebola outbreak, you must know the index case. We don't have confidence on when this outbreak started," Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya told The Associated Press last week.
In Ituri Province, which accounts for 916 of the 1,003 confirmed cases across 22 health zones, attacks by the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Force have cut off access to dozens of villages, forced mass population displacement, and created conditions in which 2 million forcibly displaced people live in areas of active Ebola risk. The UN refugee agency stated Friday it was "deeply concerned by the accelerating spread" of the virus and its "growing risks to displaced communities." An Ebola treatment tent was set ablaze twice by community members protesting public health restrictions, and a hospital in Rwampara was set on fire by protesters.
"If a disease or epidemic were to spread among the thousands of people living at this site, it would be a real catastrophe given our already very precarious living conditions," said Charité Banza, a civil society leader in Ituri.
| DRC Ebola Outbreak Summary (June 22, 2026) | Data |
| Total confirmed cases (DRC) | 1,003 |
| Confirmed deaths (DRC) | 254 |
| Confirmed recoveries | 100 |
| Patients in isolation or hospital | 365 |
| Contact tracing coverage rate | 55% |
| Untraced contacts | 35,000+ |
| Uganda confirmed cases | 20 |
| Uganda deaths | 2 |
| Primary affected province | Ituri (916 cases across 22 health zones) |
| Historical ranking | Second largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded |
| Approved vaccine for Bundibugyo strain | None |
The U.S. Response — and What Travelers Need to Know Now
The CDC extended its 30-day Ebola entry order on June 21, 2026, continuing the suspension of entry rights for foreign nationals who have been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may still return but are rerouted to one of four designated screening airports: Washington Dulles (IAD), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), George Bush Intercontinental Houston (IAH), or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.
The Bundibugyo strain is caused by a different virus than the strain addressed by the two existing approved Ebola vaccines — Ervebo and the Mvabea/Zabdeno regimen. Both vaccines target the Zaire strain. There is currently no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus, and no specific treatment exists beyond supportive care. The current outbreak is the third caused by Bundibugyo, following outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012.
No Ebola cases have been confirmed in the United States from this outbreak. The CDC maintains the risk to the general American public as low, given that Bundibugyo does not spread through airborne transmission, casual contact, or contaminated water. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids — blood, sweat, urine, vomit, feces, or saliva — of a person who is sick with Ebola, or through contact with objects contaminated by those fluids.
Travelers who have been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days and develop fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding should avoid all travel, call ahead to a healthcare facility before arriving, and immediately disclose their travel history. A 21-day monitoring window applies from the date of last potential exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How large is the current DRC Ebola outbreak?
As of June 22, 2026, Congo's Ministry of Health has confirmed 1,003 cases and 254 deaths, making it the second largest Ebola outbreak in recorded history — surpassed only by the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people.
Why can't officials stop this outbreak?
Three compounding factors are preventing control: contact tracing coverage of only 55% (35,000+ contacts still untraced), ongoing armed conflict by the Allied Democratic Force that cuts off access to affected villages, and community resistance, including attacks on treatment facilities. Officials have not identified patient zero and do not know when the outbreak started.
Is there a vaccine for the current Ebola strain?
No. The Bundibugyo virus strain driving this outbreak is not covered by either existing Ebola vaccine. Both approved vaccines — Ervebo and Mvabea/Zabdeno — target the Zaire strain. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo.
Is there a risk to the U.S.?
The CDC assesses the immediate risk to the U.S. general public as low. No cases have been confirmed in the United States. The CDC has extended its entry ban for non-U.S. citizens from DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan through July 21, 2026, and is screening all permitted travelers at four designated airports.
What should people do if they recently traveled to DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan?
Monitor for Ebola symptoms — fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, abdominal pain, unexplained bleeding — for 21 days after leaving the affected area. If symptoms develop, do not go directly to a clinic. Call ahead and disclose your travel history. Contact your state or local health department, which will coordinate appropriate evaluation.
