Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak

By Agencies
DR CONGO – During the latest 24-hour reporting period, the DRC recorded 79 new confirmed cases, 37 deaths and three recoveries
ADDIS ABABA – As of 19 July 2026, 2,443 confirmed cases, 969 deaths and 487 recoveries had been reported across the two countries. The overall case fatality ratio stands at 39.7%. During the latest 24-hour reporting period, the DRC recorded 79 new confirmed cases, 37 deaths and three recoveries.
Uganda reported no new cases or deaths and remains at 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. All contacts in Uganda have completed follow-up, and the 42-day countdown continues following the recovery and discharge of the last case.
The outbreak remains active, with transmission largely concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu. Ituri accounts for 89.1% of cases reported in the DRC. Treatment services remain under significant pressure, particularly in North Kivu, where treatment-centre occupancy has reached 128.4%. South Kivu has now gone 53 days without a new confirmed case.
Contact tracing remains a major priority. Response teams followed up 8,531 of 10,519 registered contacts, representing a national follow-up rate of 81.1%, below the 95% target. Of 1,103 alerts reported in the DRC, 911 were investigated within 24 hours and 252 were validated as suspected cases.
At points of entry and control in Ituri and North Kivu, teams screened 94.7% of 162,309 travellers. Africa CDC has also delivered nine GeneXpert machines and reagents, deployed a DHIS2 digital toolkit, supported the training of more than 4,000 community health workers and convened cross-border coordination involving 11 Member States.
Key operational challenges include pressure on treatment capacity, insecurity and community resistance affecting safe and dignified burials, shortages of infection-prevention supplies and laboratory capacity, and disruptions linked to the non-payment of response personnel.
Immediate priorities include expanding isolation and treatment capacity, strengthening contact follow-up, securing access for response teams and maintaining readiness in neighbouring countries. Africa CDC and WHO continue to advise against unnecessary restrictions on international travel or trade.