The deadly Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has escalated significantly, with 4,665 confirmed cases and 2,184 deaths recorded as of August 12, 2026.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the outbreak, which was first detected in the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri Province, has now spread to 54 health zones across six provinces — Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo and Bas-Uélé.
The outbreak has recorded a crude case fatality ratio of 46.8 per cent, highlighting its severity. WHO described it as the largest Bundibugyo virus outbreak ever reported in the DRC, noting that its spread has been faster than previous Ebola outbreaks.
The situation has worsened considerably in recent weeks, with 579 cases and 304 deaths recorded between August 3 and 9, representing the highest weekly figures since the outbreak began.
WHO said the rising number of infections, expanding geographical spread and high death toll indicate that the outbreak is evolving rapidly and could pose a wider public health threat.
Bas-Uélé became the latest province to report a confirmed infection after a case was detected in the Buta health zone. The patient reportedly had a travel history to Haut-Uélé and developed symptoms on August 4.
According to WHO, the outbreak is increasingly characterised by sustained transmission across interconnected geographical clusters rather than isolated cases, making containment efforts more difficult.
The agency also warned that insecurity, population displacement, high population mobility and cross-border movements linked to the humanitarian crisis in the DRC are complicating the response and increasing the risk of further transmission.
National authorities, in collaboration with WHO and other partners, are continuing to implement response measures, while efforts are being intensified to contain the rapidly expanding outbreak.
