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:

Lancet Ebola cross-boarder spillover risk study
U-Report (UNICEF) analysis
SSHAP overview of context and recommendations
Ground Truth Solution research on community perceptions, suggestions and fears

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.

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