On May 15, 2026, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced an Ebola outbreak—the first severe outbreak since 2022. As of August 7, there have been at least 4,200 confirmed cases and over 1,900 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is the 17th outbreak of Ebola in the DRC since it was first recorded in 1976.
Most cases have been reported in the Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Haut-Uele Provinces in the DRC, as well as in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. However, France reported its first case on June 24 involving a French doctor who traveled to the DRC.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this Ebola outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” In response, efforts to increase preparedness and strengthen community monitoring have been implemented across the DRC, Uganda, and bordering areas.
What is Ebola, and how does it spread?
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that causes severe inflammation and tissue damage to the body. It is believed to originate from fruit bats, which are natural hosts of the Orthoebolaviruses that cause Ebola disease.
Ebola transmission is not airborne, but occurs through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. Symptoms include fever, muscle weakness, nausea, diarrhea, and headache.
How does this outbreak compare to previous Ebola outbreaks?
Ebola disease was first recorded in 1976, with outbreaks of the Ebola virus (also known as the Zaire virus) and the Sudan virus in what are now the DRC and South Sudan, respectively. Among the three Orthoebolavirus species that are the most lethal to humans, the Ebola virus has the highest mortality rate of 66.6%, followed by the Sudan virus at 48.5%, and the Bundibugyo virus at 32.8%. The Bundibugyo virus is responsible for the current Ebola outbreak.
The 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa is the largest outbreak of Ebola disease to date, with more than 28,600 reported cases and 11,325 deaths. This outbreak led to the development of vaccines that only target the most virulent Ebola virus strain. There is little evidence that they are effective against the Bundibugyo strain.
The first two known outbreaks of the Bundibugyo virus were smaller, resulting in 42 deaths in Uganda in 2007 and 34 deaths in the DRC in 2012. However, the current outbreak took longer to detect than other recent outbreaks and has already spread to several major cities, as it did during the 2014–2016 outbreak. While vaccines are being developed, treatment currently consists of symptom management and supportive therapy.
Despite regional and international relief efforts, the response to the current outbreak has been complicated by conflict, civil unrest, and cuts to foreign aid. Similar to previous outbreaks, community health workers have faced resistance due to mistrust of health protocols that do not align with local cultural and religious beliefs.
How cuts to USAID and research have impacted global response efforts:
Since its establishment in 1961, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported numerous life-saving global programs, including sending mobile health teams to Afghanistan, establishing malaria projects in Senegal, and delivering maternal healthcare in Yemen, among many other countries.
Following President Trump’s return to office in January 2025, USAID has undergone significant cuts—including laying off thousands of staff, freezing foreign aid, and withdrawing healthcare units abroad—in an effort to put “America First.” The consequences of dismantling USAID include shutting down essential nutrition assistance and disease prevention programs that support millions worldwide. According to a study published in The Lancet, if defunding of USAID continues at the current pace, it is projected to result in an additional 9.4 million deaths by 2030.
The last time there was an Ebola outbreak, the US, backed by USAID, led the world in response efforts. Per former director of the Emerging Threats program at USAID, Dennis Carroll, “ […] no one has stepped in to fill the gap with the […] elimination of foreign assistance programs like USAID.” As a result of USAID cuts, “There are real limits to what can be done now compared with what could have been done earlier,” according to Phuong Pham, Associate Professor in the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard’s School of Public Health.
Research efforts have seen similar disruption. Although funding tends to spike during outbreak years, like in 2015, global funding for Ebola has declined over the past decade. Additionally, the Trump administration has placed an indefinite pause on research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)—one of the few institutions worldwide capable of studying Ebola.
The combination of research and USAID cuts has delayed crucial global response initiatives to contain the virus’s spread. Despite this, the US is still launching efforts to combat the disease, including deploying treatment units, mobilizing CDC resources, and providing financial support to the DRC and Uganda. On June 24, 2026, the White House submitted a $1.4 billion funding request to Congress to combat the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
Are there risks to the American public?
According to the CDC and WHO, the overall risk to the US, Canada, and Mexico—the 2026 World Cup host countries—is low. As of August 10, no cases of Ebola have been reported in the US.
On May 18, the US temporarily restricted entry for foreign nationals who had recently been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan. This suspension was extended on July 13 and will be in effect for 30 days. Travelers who have been in one of those countries and are allowed to enter the US will undergo a public health entry screening.