Confirmed cases in the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have reached 1,003 with 254 deaths and 100 recoveries; about 365 people are hospitalized or isolated. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no licensed vaccine or approved treatment exists. Contact tracing has reached roughly 55% coverage and more than 35,000 possible contacts still need follow-up. Ongoing violence in Ituri, including attacks by the ISIS-backed ADF, has displaced thousands and is hampering response efforts, raising fears of wider spread among vulnerable populations.
Ebola Cases in Eastern DRC Top 1,000 as Deaths Surpass 250; Contact Tracing Hampered by Violence
Medical workers escort an Ebola patient to an Ebola treatment center in Mongbwalu, Ituri province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on June 20, 2026. / Credit: Xinhua via Getty Images
Bunia, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo — Confirmed Ebola cases in the current outbreak in eastern DRC have risen to 1,003, with 254 deaths, health officials reported. The outbreak, concentrated in Ituri province and declared on May 15, has produced 100 recorded recoveries and left at least 365 people hospitalized or in isolation.
Outbreak Details and Challenges
Authorities say the outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are currently no licensed vaccines or approved treatments. Officials warn the outbreak was the most severe recorded in its first month and could still grow: many infections are likely undetected and the epidemiological peak may be ahead.
Contact tracing remains a major problem. The Ministry of Health reports that only about 55% of contacts have been reached and monitored. As of last week, health teams still needed to trace more than 35,000 people who may have been exposed to infected individuals.
This photo taken on June 19, 2026 shows a view of a displacement camp near Bunia, capital of Ituri, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. / Credit: Xinhua via Getty Images
"If you want to control an outbreak, especially an Ebola outbreak, you must know the index case. We don't have confidence on when this outbreak started," said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaking to The Associated Press.
Security Problems Hamper Response
Efforts to identify the index case and to trace contacts are being undermined by ongoing insecurity in eastern Congo. Attacks by the ISIS-backed Allied Democratic Force (ADF) have cut off access to many villages in Ituri, forcing residents to flee. Displaced people frequently end up in overcrowded camps or remain constantly on the move, both conditions that accelerate transmission risk and complicate surveillance.
At the Kigonze displacement camp near Bunia, which hosts more than 20,000 people, camp administrators reported that 10 people died last week under unusual circumstances, prompting concerns and calls for investigation. Camp officials said there had been no confirmed Ebola cases at Kigonze, but described the rise in deaths as unprecedented.
Humanitarian Concerns
The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned that at least 2 million internally displaced people in Congo — including more than 320,000 refugees — live in areas considered at risk for Ebola. In a statement the agency said it was "deeply concerned by the accelerating spread" of the virus and the growing danger to displaced communities.
"If a disease or epidemic were to spread among the thousands of people living at this (Kigonze) site, it would be a real catastrophe given our already very precarious living conditions," said Charité Banza, a civil society leader in Ituri.
Health officials continue to scale up surveillance, community engagement and infection-prevention measures where access allows. But responders say insecurity, population displacement and incomplete contact tracing mean the true scale of the outbreak remains uncertain.
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