Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Outbreak Situation Report #3
- Emergency Manager's Weekly Report
- 23 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Global Highlights: Â
·      The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on May 22nd the following:
o  832 cases (82 confirmed & 750 suspected).
o  184 deaths (7 confirmed & 177 suspected).
·      WHO has deployed 22 international staff to support the public health response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
·      WHO and the Africa Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (Africa CDC) has established a continental Incident Management Support Team.
·      On May 21st, the EU has delivered 100 tons of UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) supplies via a Humanitarian Air Bridge Flight.
·      Emergency Funding Update:
o  On May 21st, the Africa CDC has committed immediate support of $1 million to strengthen emergency operations and deploy rapid response teams across the DRC.
o  The EU has released 2.7 million Euros in funding to support the public health response (health support, epidemic response & primary healthcare).
o  On May 21st, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator announced that he has allocated $60 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to accelerate the response.
·      Several experimental vaccines and therapeutics are being evaluated, these include:
o  rVSVΔG/BDBV-GP vaccine
o  ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine
o  MBP134 (Mapp Biopharmaceutical) Antibody-based Therapy
o  Maftivimab (Regeneron) Antibody-based Therapy
o  BDBV289-N Antibody-based Therapy
o  Obeldesivir (Gilead) Antiviral
o  Remdesivir (Gilead) Antiviral
·      On May 21st, five travelers from the DRC and Uganda arrived in Thailand. They have been placed in a 21-day health observation after screening showed no symptoms.
·      WHO on May 22nd has updated their risk assessment of this outbreak:
o  National Level: High
o  Regional Level: High
o  Global Level: Low
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Highlights:
·      WHO reported on May 22nd, that the Ituri and North Kivu Provinces are highly insecure:
o  Four million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
o  Two million people are displaced.
o  10 million people are facing acute hunger.
·      The DRC Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security reported a security incident at the Ebola Treatment Center in Rwampara (Ituri) on May 21st:
o  Tents and medical supplies were set on fire during this incident.
o  Six patients initially disappeared during this incident but they have been located and are being treated at the general referral hospital in Rwampara.
o  The DRC government has called on the population to remain calm and condemns any violence against health facilities and medical personnel.
o  Security measures have been strengthened.
·      The DRC Red Cross Society reported the following activities:
o  Safe and Dignified Burial teams have been deployed. On May 21st these teams supported five dignified and safe burials in Ituri.
o  200 volunteers have been deployed in the Bunia and Rwampara health zones. They are supporting community engagement and frontline public health activities.
o  A Red Cross radio program is also reinforcing the public health messaging.
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Uganda Highlights:
·      Only two imported cases have been reported in the country as of May 21st:
o  One fatality has been recorded.
o  One person remains under care and is steadily recovering. As of May 20th, this patient has tested negative for the virus.
·      The Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) has taken the following actions:
o  Emergency Operations Centres have been activated in 16 districts.
o  Intensified surveillance and contact tracing have been undertaken.
o  Death reporting has been enhanced in all districts with emphasis placed on districts bordering the DRC and the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
o  Mobile laboratories have been deployed.
o  Cross border coordination has been enhanced. This includes enhanced border security patrols.
o  On May 21st, Uganda has suspended all flights from the DRC.
o  All cultural celebrations and commemorations that attract large numbers of participants along the border have been temporarily suspended.
o  The public ferry service on the Semliki River has been temporary suspended.
o  Cross-border transportation services has been suspended for four weeks with the exception of goods and food transports.
o  All weekly markets in the border sub-counties of high-risk districts have been temporary suspended for the next four weeks.
o  Schools will open on time but will operate under MOH protocols.
·      As of May 21st, an Africa CDC multidisciplinary team is on the ground, working with the MOH and the country’s Ebola Incident Management Team to strengthen response operations and boost regional preparedness.
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United States Highlights:
·      The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on May 21st that certain travelers who were recently in either the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan have been temporarily restricted from re-entering the United States.
·      U.S. citizens, nationals, and lawful permanent residents may still enter but will undergo enhanced screening.
·      WHO reported on May 22nd that another American citizen who was a high-risk contact was transported to the Czech Republic for observation.
·      The CDC on May 22nd reported that through their funding partners 20 epidemiologists are being deployed to the affected areas and 50 community healthcare workers are being trained to strengthen local capacity.
·      CDC is also preparing to deploy seven personnel to the DRC and Uganda.
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Sources:
·      Democratic Republic of the Congo | Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak - DG ECHO Daily Map | 21/05/2026
·      Ebola: IFRC scales up response in eastern DRC as regional risks grow
·      Democratic Republic of the Congo Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security Twitter Page
·      Uganda Ministry of Health Twitter Page
·      Africa CDC Twitter Page
·      World Health Organization Twitter PageÂ
·      OCHA DRC Twitter PageÂ
·      BEACON Twitter PageÂ
·      IFRC Africa Twitter PageÂ
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Resources
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First meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee regarding the epidemic of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda 2026 – Temporary recommendations (New)
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PolitiFact, Ebola outbreak: What are the symptoms? Is there a vaccine? Did US aid cuts affect prevention? (New)
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ACAPS Briefing Note - DRC: Ebola outbreak (22 May 2026) (New)
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Ebola outbreak: ‘Every epidemic begins in a community and ends in a community’ (New)
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CDC Health Advisory: Ebola Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
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ECDC, Ebola disease
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