DR Congo: UNFPA Flash Update - Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease (BVD) Outbreak (20 - 26 May 2026)
Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda
Source: United Nations Population Fund
Please refer to the attached file.
As of 26 May 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) had reported 1,077 suspected cases of Ebola and 238 deaths, with transmission heavily concentrated in the Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. Uganda has reported five cases, including one death, all linked to imported cases from the DRC. The outbreak is complicated by acute insecurity, armed conflict, and massive internal displacement, which severely restricts response efforts. A critical concern is the absence of widely-licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics for this strain. Cross-border transmission risks are high, with 10 other African countries at elevated risk.
UNFPA is participating in United Nations Country Team preparedness efforts across all 10 high-risk African countries and is working to ensure the continuity of critical sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services despite major supply chain challenges, including for personal protective equipment (PPE) specifically tailored for delivery procedures. Furthermore, UNFPA is addressing the threat to safe clinical pathways for the clinical management of rape and comprehensive gender-based violence (GBV) care; the risk of sexual transmission from survivors of rape necessitates the urgent integration of private, stigma-free counselling; contraceptive provision; and condom distribution.
UNFPA advocated for the central integration of maternal health and GBV service continuity into the US $340 million Regional Response Plan. While international donors have pledged 70 per cent of the overarching regional fund, immediate operational funding gaps remain critical. ...