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Emergency Thread - Ebola Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a new Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, declared on May 15, 2026, by the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, following the confirmation of Ebola virus cases of the Bundibugyo strain in Ituri Province. This is the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the country since 1976.

REACH teams in the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan are mobilizing in support of the Ebola response, providing rapid analysis, information management, and targeted data collection to inform preparedness and response efforts. Current activities include mapping mobility patterns to identify areas connected to affected locations, analyzing vulnerabilities and health preparedness capacities in potentially exposed areas, and preparing knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) assessments to inform risk communication and community engagement efforts.

Find below publications from trusted partners that IMPACT is coordinating with in the context of this regional Ebola response:

Access all of our DRC, South Sudan, Uganda products on our Resource Center. Please note that most of our publications on DRC are available in French.

15 June 2026

Évaluation rapide des connaissances, attitudes et pratiques (CAP) concernant l’épidémie de maladie à virus Ebola (MVE)

Face à l’épidémie d’Ebola (MVE), l’adoption de comportements préventifs, l’acceptation des mesures de santé publique, la confiance envers les acteurs de la riposte ainsi que l’accès à une information fiable sont déterminants pour l’efficacité des interventions.

Dans ce contexte, REACH a conduit une évaluation rapide des connaissances, attitudes et pratiques auprès des communautés dans plusieurs zones de santé affectées par l’épidémie, afin de documenter les connaissances sur la MVE, les perceptions du risque, les comportements de prévention ainsi que les principales sources d’information.

Consulter le brief ici

11 June 2026

Regional overview: mobility patterns and health access vulnerabilities

Since the Ebola outbreak, its spread has largely followed highly connected areas around the initial cluster in Ituri. REACH teams have updated their analysis and maps to reflect the rapid increase in confirmed cases and newly affected health zones.

Key takeaways:

  • While response efforts focus on affected areas, preparedness must be strengthened in neighbouring health zones with strong population movement links, through RCCE, community-based surveillance, and pre-positioned response capacity.
  • Preparedness should also factor in health system vulnerabilities, as areas with limited access to healthcare and higher levels of unmet health needs may face delays in detection and response. Further insights on facility readiness and response capacity will be shared through an upcoming REACH assessment.
  • Although efforts are rightly concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu, historical mobility patterns highlight several health zones in Haut-Uele as important areas for preparedness planning. Strengthening surveillance, contingency planning, and community engagement there will be essential to improve readiness.

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29 May 2026

2026 Ebola Outbreak: Mobility and Health System Vulnerabilities in Eastern DRC and Bordering Areas

In the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak, declared on 15 May, a four-week detection gap may have allowed the virus to spread through routine population movements. The REACH team has synthesised available mobility data and secondary sources to identify key vulnerabilities.

Eastern DRC: Mobility data in the DRC shows that five provinces not currently classified as high-risk remain closely connected to affected areas, highlighting the urgent need to expand surveillance, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), and preparedness beyond known hotspots.

Uganda: Movements along the DRC–Uganda border have been well documented as being shaped by strong economic and social ties between communities. This includes links with areas hosting South Sudanese refugees in Northern Uganda.

South Sudan: Areas like Yambio and Morobo are key entry points from the DRC, but limited health system capacity and unmet needs may delay case detection, underscoring the importance of strengthened early warning and response systems.

Read the full brief