Care Families in the eastern DRC and Uganda are facing a new Ebola outbreak alongside conflict, displacement, hunger, and fragile health systems. CARE and local partners are supporting preparedness efforts, with a focus on sharing trusted information, supporting infection prevention, and addressing the heightened risks facing women and girls. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15, 2026, after cases were confirmed in Ituri Province. The region is already heavily affected by conflict, displacement, hunger, and limited access to healthcare and other basic services, all of which make it harder to stop the spread of disease.
This outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, a type of Ebola for which there is currently no approved vaccine. As of May 19, authorities reported 536 suspected cases, 105 probable cases, 34 confirmed cases, and 134 deaths. However, health experts believe the virus may have been spreading undetected for two to three weeks before the outbreak was officially declared, raising concerns that transmission may be more widespread than current confirmed numbers reflect.
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