On May 17, 2026 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for the outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo (Bun-dee-BOO-joh) virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is assisting in the reponse to the outbreak.
To date, no Ebola cases associated with this outbreak have been reported in the United States, and the risk to the general public remains low. Updates are available on the CDC Ebola Situation Report website.
Learn more about Ebola and past outbreaks at the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center website.
Background
Ebola disease is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus species. The mortality rate can be as high as 80 to 90%. Ebola was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now DRC. Since then, outbreaks have appeared sporadically in several other African countries.
4 types of orthoebolaviruses cause illness in people:
- Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense) causes Ebola virus disease.
- Sudan virus (species Orthoebolavirus sudanense) causes Sudan virus disease.
- Taï Forest virus (species Orthoebolavirus taiense) causes Taï Forest virus disease.
- Bundibugyo virus (species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense) causes Bundibugyo virus disease.
How It Spreads
People can get Ebola only when they touch the body fluids of someone who is sick with it or has died from it. A person can spread Ebola only after symptoms start. You can’t get Ebola just by being near someone because it doesn’t spread through the air.
In rare cases, people can get Ebola from infected animals, like bats or non‑human primates.
Signs and Symptoms
Someone with Ebola can start feeling sick 2 to 21 days after contact with the virus, but most people get symptoms around 8 to 10 days after exposure.
Early symptoms are “dry”, like fever, body aches, headaches, and tiredness. As the illness gets worse, it usually leads to “wet” symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes unexplained bleeding.
Testing and Diagnosis
Healthcare providers can use a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) blood test to diagnose Ebola disease in people who are alive. They can also do a blood test to check for orthoebolavirus antibodies to see if the person recently had Ebola.
Someone being tested for Ebola disease should separate from others in a healthcare facility until results are confirmed.
Treatment
Two FDA-approved treatments – Inmazeb™ and Ebanga™ – are available for Ebola, but only for the Orthoebolavirus zairense species.
There are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense species, which is the cause of the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda.
Supportive care is the cornerstone of treatment for Ebola disease. Patients have a much better chance of surviving Ebola when they receive:
- Fluids and electrolytes to keep their body hydrated
- Medicine to support blood pressure, decrease vomiting and diarrhea, and to manage fever and pain
- Treatment for other infections, if they happen
Prevention
If you live or travel to places where Ebola has been found, take steps to protect yourself.
- Avoid touching body fluids like blood, urine, vomit, sweat, or saliva from someone who is sick, and avoid semen from someone who has recovered until tests show it’s safe.
- Stay away from items that touched infected fluids such as clothing, bedding, needles, or medical equipment.
- Do not touch the body of someone who had Ebola.
- Avoid bats, primates, and any raw meat or fluids from these or unknown animals.
- Wear protective equipment if you must be around someone who is sick or has died from Ebola.
What to Do After Travel
As of May 2026, CDC is responding to an Ebola outbreak in parts of the DRC and Uganda. CDC checks travelers entering the United States from these countries – and from South Sudan – for symptoms or possible exposure.
Anyone traveling from these areas should watch their health for 21 days after leaving the country. Returning travelers are encouraged to check their temperature daily and monitor of signs and symptoms of Ebola disease.
Additional CDC guidance for returning travelers from Ebola-affected countries can be found at the following link: Ebola: What to Do After Travel.
Public
- CDC – Ebola Disease Basics
- CDC – 2026 Ebola Outbreak: Current Situation
- CDC – Ebola: What to Do After Travel
Healthcare Provider Resources
- NETEC – Ebola Virus Disease Resource Library
- CDC – Clinical Guidance for Ebola Disease
- CDC recorded webinar: What Clinicians Should Know about Ebola Bundibugyo virus
- CDC – Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients in U.S. Hospitals who are Suspected or Confirmed to have VHFs
- Guide for Clinicians Evaluating an Ill Person for a Special Pathogen
- Identify, Isolate, Inform Tip sheet
- PPE Matrix for High-Consequence Infectious Diseases
Laboratories
- CDC: Lab Testing for Patients with a Suspected VHF or High Infectious Disease Consequence Disease (HCID)
- AR State Public Health Lab – Ebola Virus Disease Testing
Resources
Contact
Outbreak Prevention and Response
4815 W. Markham St., Slot 77
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 501-661-2381
Fax: 501-661-2428