Ebola Outbreak: Current Situation

Ebola Outbreak: Current Situation

CDC

• CDC is responding to an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 
  
• This outbreak is spreading substantially faster than previous Ebola outbreaks and is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
• The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola virus.
• In DRC, cases have been confirmed in Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), Nord-Ubangi (North Ubangi), and Tshopo provinces.
  • This is the 17th outbreak of Ebola in DRC.
  • This Ebola outbreak surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases within 40 days of response activation. In comparison, the 2018 Ebola outbreak in DRC took approximately 235 days to reach more than 1,000 cases.
  • South Kivu has reported no confirmed cases since May 29.
    
• As of October 23, Kenya's Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed a total of nine cases of Ebola disease and two deaths.
  • The initial case was a confirmed travel-related infection reported on October 6. A man traveled from DRC, through Uganda, to Kenya's capital Nairobi, where he was hospitalized and died in an isolation unit. He did not contract Ebola while in Kenya.
  • Further cases, including an additional death, were among relatives or healthcare providers with close contact with the first infected man, and all were already in quarantine when diagnosed. All cases were in Nairobi, and Kenya's MOH has reported no community spread of Ebola in the country.
• On October 20, Nigeria reported its first case of Ebola in the 2026 outbreak. Testing confirmed the infection was caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which is the virus driving the current Ebola outbreak.
• Uganda also reported cases of Ebola at the same time DRC declared an outbreak.
• Uganda reported 21 confirmed and probable cases and 3 deaths. The last reported case there was confirmed June 21.

• The response to this outbreak is challenging due to a number of complex circumstances in the region.
  • Limited health infrastructure, including limited access to healthcare, diagnostic and laboratory services, infection prevention and control supplies, and other basic services make stopping this outbreak more difficult.
  • Ongoing conflict in the area where the outbreak is occurring creates security issues and complicates contact tracing and infection prevention and control.
  • Violence against healthcare workers and shortages of personal protective equipment are leading to healthcare workers becoming infected while treating patients.
  • Frequent population movement and cross-border travel increase the risk of spread to Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, and to other areas.
  • Lack of trust in the government and misinformation make communicating about Ebola more difficult.

To reduce the risk of Ebola importation into the United States, U.S. entry for travelers who were recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is temporarily restricted. Travelers, including Americans, who have been in DRC within 21 days of their flight will not be allowed to board commercial flights with U.S. destinations.

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