Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Outbreak Situation Report #16
- Emergency Manager's Weekly Report
- 10 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Global Highlights
· The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on August 19th reported 5,639 cases (5,311 confirmed, 327 suspected & 1 probable):
o There have been 2,519 deaths (2,518 confirmed & 1 probable).
o 1,171 people have recovered.
· Mercy Corps published an incident analysis covering July 2-31. This analysis revealed the following:
o The outbreak’s acceleration and there has been a transformation in the nature of the risk surrounding the response.
o The average severity of incidents is falling in terms of casualties, their frequency is rising sharply and their geographical spread is widening:
ü Ituri remains the province most affected, but North Kivu now accounts for a far larger share of incidents, while Tshopo and Haut-Uélé have entered our monitoring.
o Three distinct though at times interlocking risk systems now shape the operational environment of the response:
ü The first remains community friction, chiefly around safe and dignified burials, prevention activities and health facilities:
Ø It is shifting towards North Kivu, with Beni and Butembo among the main flashpoints.
ü The second is contestation internal to the response, linked in particular to arrears in incentive payments, salaries and other payments:
Ø This is especially visible in Bunia and Rwampara, where staff protests have disrupted the functioning of health facilities and certain response activities.
ü The third arises from territorial control exercised by armed actors, some of whom are appropriating or instrumentalizing public health measures, notably in Lubero and Irumu.
· WHO reported on August 20th, that the DRC has received the Ervebo vaccines from the global Ebola virus disease vaccine stockpile:
o This vaccine is licensed and recommended for use.
o The current allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial to understand the impact of the vaccine on the Bundibugyo virus, and 50,000 doses for frontline and health workers.
· On August 22nd, the UN Senior Ebola Coordinator reported that it has been 100 days since the outbreak was declared. The outbreak is spreading faster and wider than the response. To contain the outbreak, additional funding is urgently needed.
· On August 20th, WHO revised their rick assessment:
o The Ituri Province remains the epicenter, but ongoing transmission, spread to new areas, a high case fatality ratio (47%), and increasing infections among healthcare workers indicate that the outbreak remains severe and difficult to control.
o The overall risk remains very high in the DRC.
o In the countries neighboring the DRC, particularly those sharing land borders it remains high.
o At the regional and global levels, the risk is rated as low.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Highlights:
· The DRC government on August 16th reported that they have provided land for an Ebola Treatment Center in Kisangani. Doctors without Borders is building a 50-bed center which will free up beds in the nearby hospital.
· On August 19th, it was announced that the UN and the DRC government are working on scaling up five operational packages, which are:
o Tripling of safe care capacity.
o Enhancing community engagement.
o Doubling safe and dignified burial teams.
o Increasing surveillance.
o Providing care to the most vulnerable populations.
· The DRC Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security (DRC MOH) reported on August 21st that they received 16,520 doses of the RVBO vaccine doses at the N’djili International Airport:
o A total of 50,120 doses are expected to be delivered between August 21-24.
o This vaccine has been manufactured in Germany by MSD and have been funded by Gavi.
· The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and WHO on August 21st is strengthening the response by increasing the number of Rapid Response Teams:
o 200 health professionals are being trained. They include doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, specialists in infection prevention and control, water, sanitation and hygiene and logistical specialists.
o The goal of these teams is to be ready to respond wherever they are needed, conduct investigations, risk assessments, setting up Ebola Treatment Centers, and implementing response measures in new hotspots.
· On August 17th in Aru several ambulances were vandalized and an ambulance driver was injured.
· The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) reported the following activities:
o Peacekeepers remain mobilized along with their partners to secure access and facilitate the delivery of aid to populations.
o On August 17th, MONUSCO and Armed Forces of the DRC patrols are maintaining a visible presence on key routes which are designed to strengthen the security and confidence needed to support voluntary returns.
Sources:
· Ebola-Related Incident Analysis - CPT Signals and Implications - July 2026
· WHO Ebola outbreak - DRC 2026 Website
· DRC Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security Twitter Page
· UN Senior Ebola Coordinator Twitter Page
· WHO Twitter Page
· WHO African Region Twitter Page
· Africa CDC Twitter Page
· United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Twitter Page
Resources
DR Congo - Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak Affected provinces: Ituri, North Kivu,South Kivu, Tshopo and Haut-Uélé (as of 11 August 2026) (New)
WHO issues comprehensive guidelines on filovirus disease, including Ebola and Marburg disease
CDC Health Advisory: Ebola Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
ECDC, Ebola disease
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