Bundibugyo Ebola: what is happening in DR Congo and what Egypt’s Health Ministry has said

As of 15 October 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 9,277 confirmed cases and 4,478 deaths in the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak (ECDC, week 42). In statements dated 17 to 24 May 2026, the latest we found, Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population said no case had been detected in Egypt.

This page sets dated figures, the ministry’s own words and official descriptions of the disease side by side. It is not medical advice and cannot tell you whether you are at risk.

Last checked: 23 October 2026. Counts change every week, so check the sources for newer ones.

What is happening with Ebola in DR Congo right now?

Figure	What the source says	As of	Source
DR Congo	9,277 confirmed cases, including 4,478 deaths; 2,486 people recovered; 924 patients in hospital isolation; 65 of 167 health zones affected, in seven provinces (media reports add two cases in an eighth)	15 October (data to 14 October)	ECDC
An earlier count	9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths. UKHSA calls this the largest recorded Bundibugyo outbreak and the second largest Ebola outbreak to date	11 October	UKHSA
Other countries (not a full list)	Kenya: 2 confirmed cases and 1 death in the ECDC and UKHSA counts (reported 6 and 14 October; the first was a traveller from DR Congo). On 17 October Kenya’s health ministry announced four more cases, for a total of seven (Citizen Digital). Uganda: 20 confirmed cases, 2 deaths, outbreak declared over in August. France: an imported case, reported 24 June.	To 15 October; Kenya to 17 October	ECDC, UKHSA, Citizen Digital
WHO emergency	Public health emergency of international concern determined on 17 May 2026; the Emergency Committee last met on 18 August	22 October	UKHSA
WHO risk assessment	Very high in DR Congo, high for countries bordering it, low for the rest of the African region and globally	22 October	UKHSA

Read on 23 October 2026. ECDC adds that, because of gaps in information and limited follow-up of contacts, the outbreak is likely larger than reported.

In Egypt: is there Ebola, and what has the Health Ministry said?

The statements we found came from the ministry’s spokesperson, Dr Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar (17 and 22 May), and from a ministry statement reported by the press (24 May). The news page on the ministry’s website, opened on 23 October 2026, listed no Ebola item; we could not tell how current that list is.

Date	What the ministry said	Source
17 May 2026	No Ebola infection recorded inside Egypt («عدم رصد أي حالات»); readiness raised at all air, sea and land entry points; the chance of the disease reaching Egypt «تظل منخفضة» (remains low).	Masrawy
22 May 2026	In a video on the ministry’s Facebook page, the spokesperson said no case had been detected so far and the chance of the disease reaching Egypt was «منخفضة جدا» (very low). Precautions follow standards approved by WHO, arrivals are monitored, thermal cameras are used at entry points, and WHO has made no recommendation to restrict travel.	Masrawy
24 May 2026	Health screening of arrivals from affected countries intensified; travellers followed for 21 days; citizens asked to postpone travel to affected countries and areas unless absolutely necessary.	Asharq Al-Awsat

All three statements are from May 2026, before France’s imported case (24 June) and Kenya’s cases (from 6 October). We found no later ministry statement on Ebola when we searched on 23 October 2026, so we cannot say what the ministry’s position is today. Its official pages can.

What is different about Bundibugyo Ebola, and is there a vaccine?

Bundibugyo virus is one of three viruses that WHO’s fact sheet (page dated 24 April 2025) names as known to cause large outbreaks. ECDC notes that, unlike the more commonly detected Orthoebolavirus zairense, there is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease (ECDC, week 42; WHO, 3 July 2026). Candidate vaccines are in pre-clinical development or early trials (ECDC).

WHO’s fact sheet puts the average case fatality rate of Ebola disease at around 50%, with past outbreaks ranging from 25% to 90%. These are general figures for the disease, not a forecast for anyone.

How does Ebola spread, and what are the first symptoms?

Question	WHO fact sheet	Ministry (22 and 24 May 2026)
How does it spread?	By direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a sick or dead person, and with objects or surfaces contaminated by them	Only by direct contact with a patient’s body fluids, not through the air
When can a person pass it on?	Not before they show symptoms	Not during the incubation period
How long until symptoms?	2 to 21 days	Arrivals from affected countries are followed for 21 days
First signs	Sudden fever, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, headache, sore throat	Examples it gave: a sudden rise in temperature, severe general weakness, muscle pain, vomiting or diarrhoea, unexplained bleeding

Read on 23 October 2026. A list of signs is not a way to check yourself, and this page does not diagnose.

This page covers one outbreak only. For flu, RSV and COVID season in Egypt, see Winter 2026/27 in Egypt: a planner for flu, RSV and COVID season.

Travelling to or from an affected area: what do officials say?

• The ministry (24 May 2026): asked citizens to postpone travel to affected countries and areas unless absolutely necessary, and to avoid direct contact with suspected cases and with body fluids. For travellers followed for 21 days, the statement says that if any symptoms appear they should go straight to the nearest health facility or call the ministry’s hotline.
• WHO (3 July 2026): on the information then available, it advises against any restriction on travel to, or trade with, DR Congo or Uganda. ECDC’s week 42 report repeats this and adds that WHO recommends targeted health screening at points of entry instead of bans.

If you have been in an affected area and develop signs like those in the ministry’s 24 May list (see the table above), go to the nearest emergency department or call emergency services now. An app cannot decide that for you: see why urgency is the clinician’s call.

Frequently asked questions

Is there Ebola in Egypt?

In statements dated 17 to 24 May 2026, the latest we found, Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population said no case had been detected inside Egypt (read 23 October 2026). Check the ministry’s official pages for the current position.

Is there an Ebola vaccine?

Not for this virus. ECDC (week 42) says no licensed vaccine or specific treatment is available for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, and that candidate vaccines are in pre-clinical development or early trials. It adds that WHO guidance proposes using a vaccine licensed for a different Ebola virus, Orthoebolavirus zairense, during Bundibugyo outbreaks, mainly within a research protocol.

Does Ebola spread through the air?

WHO’s fact sheet describes spread through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a sick or dead person and with contaminated objects. Egypt’s ministry said in May 2026 that it does not spread through the air.

Medigize is a non-diagnostic navigation tool. This is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department.

Sources

1. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Communicable Disease Threats Report, week 42, 10 to 16 October 2026, read 23 October 2026
2. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA): Outbreaks under monitoring, week 41 (page updated 22 October 2026), read 23 October 2026
3. World Health Organization (WHO): Disease Outbreak News, Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, 3 July 2026, read 23 October 2026
4. World Health Organization (WHO): Ebola disease, fact sheet (page dated 24 April 2025), read 23 October 2026
5. Masrawy: statement by the Ministry of Health and Population spokesperson, 17 May 2026, read 23 October 2026
6. Masrawy: the spokesperson’s video statement on Ebola, 22 May 2026, read 23 October 2026
7. Asharq Al-Awsat: Egypt’s Ministry of Health statement, 24 May 2026, read 23 October 2026
8. Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP): news page, read 23 October 2026
9. Citizen Digital (Kenya): report of the Ministry of Health’s announcement of four new Ebola cases, 17 October 2026, read 23 October 2026