Summary
On May 17, 2026 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern after reports of an Ebola outbreak tied to the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The WHO stressed this did not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency. The announcement came amid other recent infectious-disease concerns, including a hantavirus event on the MV Hondius and as the WHO held its 79th World Health Assembly (May 18–23, 2026).
Key facts about Ebola
– Disease process: Ebola virus infection damages blood vessels and can cause severe internal and external bleeding and multi-organ failure. Early symptoms include fever, nausea, weakness, loss of appetite and unexplained bleeding; some variants can cause chest pain.
– Transmission: The virus spreads to people from infected animals and from person to person through close contact with blood, organs, secretions and other bodily fluids. Caring for people at home without protective measures risks further spread.
– Treatment and prevention: Some Ebola forms can be prevented with vaccines and treated with antibody medicines. Supportive care—oral and intravenous fluids, symptom management and treatment of coexisting conditions—improves survival when provided early.
Major outbreaks and history
Ebola was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River during simultaneous outbreaks in what are now the DRC and South Sudan. The largest recorded epidemic occurred between 2014 and 2016, when the virus spread from the DRC to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, causing more than 28,600 infections and about 10,000 deaths. From 2018 to 2020 further outbreaks spread from the DRC to Uganda and other countries. Additional outbreaks have occurred in Gabon, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, with at least 2,000 deaths recorded across more limited events.
Virus types and severity
– Zaire ebolavirus: Often responsible for the most severe outbreaks. Historically it has been associated with very high case-fatality rates.
– Sudan ebolavirus: Causes Ebola virus disease with a lower, but still substantial, fatality rate compared with some Zaire outbreaks.
– Bundibugyo virus: First identified in 2007 and one of the more frequently observed variants in recent African outbreaks.
Symptoms across these variants are similar, though clinical severity and fatality rates vary by strain and by the quality and timeliness of care.
Treatment options
When detected early, hospital care with fluids, electrolyte replacement and supportive medicines can reduce the risk of death. Two targeted antibody therapies are in use: Ebanga (a monoclonal antibody that blocks viral entry into cells) and Inmazeb (a three-antibody cocktail). Such treatments should be managed by medical teams; the WHO advises against home care for confirmed cases because of the high risk of transmission to household members.
Additional supportive measures can include blood transfusions and medicines to control pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as treatment for concurrent infections such as malaria.
Vaccines
– Ervebo: A live-attenuated vaccine approved in the United States and the European Union. It protects against disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus. Age approvals differ by jurisdiction (for example, in Europe it is approved from age 1, whereas in the US approval has been for adults). Regulatory approvals by agencies such as the FDA and EMA are widely used as references for vaccine deployment.
– Sudan virus vaccine candidates: In February 2025, a trial launched in Uganda involving the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Uganda’s Health Ministry, Makerere University and the WHO to test a vaccine candidate against the Sudan virus during an active outbreak—one of the first trials of its kind. The Sudan vaccine uses a similar platform to Ervebo and is considered a promising approach against Sudan virus disease and related filoviruses, including Marburg.
Prevention and public-health response
Vaccination of people living in or traveling to affected regions is recommended where appropriate vaccines are available. Rapid case detection, isolation of patients, safe burial practices and protection for health workers remain central to limiting transmission. The global health community also uses ongoing outbreaks to evaluate and deploy vaccines and therapeutics under emergency protocols.
Why Ebola remains a recurrent threat
Ebola outbreaks recur because the virus persists in animal reservoirs, can spill over to humans, and can spread rapidly where health systems are weak or delayed in detecting and responding to cases. Variable clinical severity across virus species, limited availability of some vaccines and medicines for all affected areas, and the challenges of reaching remote or conflict-affected communities all make sustained control difficult.
Takeaway
Ebola remains a serious public-health concern in parts of Africa. Advances in vaccines and antibody therapies have improved prevention and treatment options, but early detection, strong healthcare infrastructure, and rapid public-health action are essential to contain outbreaks and reduce deaths.
Editorial note
This piece was originally published on February 6, 2025 and updated on May 18, 2026 to include the Bundibugyo-linked outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and the WHO’s May 17, 2026 emergency declaration.