Ebola Outbreak in Eastern DRC: 26 Suspected Cases in 24 Hours
May 19, 2026
The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have announced that 26 suspected cases of Ebola have been recorded in the past 24 hours in the eastern part of the country. This comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concern over the spread of the disease.
The number of deaths linked to this outbreak in eastern DRC has now risen to 131. According to the daily bulletin from the health authorities, 516 cases have been reported, including 33 confirmed cases in the DRC, as well as two confirmed cases in neighboring Uganda.
On Saturday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the spread of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, sparking widespread concern.
This outbreak is particularly worrying for experts due to its ability to spread for several weeks without being detected in a densely populated and already fragile region plagued by armed violence.
Jean-Jacques Muyembe, Director of the National Institute of Biomedical Research in the DRC, reported that the city of Butembo, located in the North Kivu province and home to hundreds of thousands of people, recorded its first two confirmed cases on Monday.
A government official in the region also stated that the Ugandan authorities have begun restricting movements at the Ishasha-Kishiro border post to limit the spread of the virus, while emphasizing that the border remains open.
However, the WHO has called on countries not to close their borders, citing that such a measure would risk encouraging uncontrolled and unauthorized crossings.
How Ebola Spreads
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or animals. Symptoms can include high fever, vomiting, and internal and external bleeding. The WHO notes that the average mortality rate associated with the virus is around 50%.
Key Statistics
- 516 cases reported
- 33 confirmed cases in the DRC
- 2 confirmed cases in Uganda
- 131 deaths linked to the outbreak
- 26 suspected cases in the past 24 hours
WHO Response
The WHO has called on countries to take a coordinated and evidence-based approach to addressing the outbreak, while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining open borders to prevent uncontrolled and unauthorized crossings.
