Ebola outbreak in DR Congo
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed over 5,300 people. A British health worker has been evacuated to London for treatment.
IllustrationThe story so far
The outbreak was declared in May 2026 and has since infected more than 10,000 people. The rare Bundibugyo strain has spread to eight provinces in the DRC and to Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria. Delayed detection and conflict have contributed to the rapid growth of the epidemic.
By early November, the death toll passed 5,300, making it the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic on record. The World Health Organization recommended clinical trials for two new vaccine candidates. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to lift travel restrictions to aid the response.
On November 5, a British healthcare worker who tested positive in the DRC arrived at the Royal Free Hospital in London. This is the first confirmed case involving a British national in the current outbreak. UK officials stated that established infection control procedures keep the public risk low.
Latest updates
5 updates · newest first- 5 NovNew development
British Ebola patient arrives at London hospital after DR Congo infection
A British health worker who tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been flown to London and taken to a specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital. It is the first confirmed UK national case in the current DR Congo outbreak, which has passed 10,000 cases and 5,000 deaths. UK officials said established infection control procedures keep the public risk low, while the outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo variant.
BBC News ↗
The Guardian ↗
- 4 NovNew development
British healthcare worker with Ebola evacuated from DR Congo to UK
A British healthcare worker who tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is being evacuated to the UK for treatment in a specialist high-consequence infectious disease unit. The patient is in stable condition and is expected to arrive in the UK on Wednesday or Thursday. This is the first case involving a British national contracting the virus in the current outbreak, which has spread to Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria.
- 4 NovNew development
WHO backs trials for two new vaccines against Ebola outbreak
The World Health Organization has recommended clinical trials for two new vaccine candidates developed by the University of Oxford, the Serum Institute of India, and Moderna to combat the Bundibugyo Ebola variant. The current outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May, has infected more than 10,000 people and killed over 5,300, making it the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic on record. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to lift travel restrictions, arguing they punish transparency and harm the response.
Euronews ↗
- 2 NovNew development
Ebola outbreak kills over 5,300 in fastest-growing epidemic on record
Africa's latest Ebola outbreak has killed 5,376 people, with the vast majority of deaths occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The epidemic, which began in May, has infected more than 10,000 people and spread to Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment.
MedPage Today ↗
Al Jazeera ↗
- 31 OctNew development
Ebola death toll in DR Congo passes 5,000
Government data show Ebola in the DRC has killed more than 5,000 people and infected more than 10,000 since the outbreak was declared in May. Delayed detection, conflict and strained health services have spread the rare Bundibugyo strain to eight of 26 provinces, with cases also reported in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda. Saudi Arabia suspended travel to and entry from Kenya on Friday, extending outbreak-related travel restrictions.