The Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus is currently spreading in Congo and Uganda. The World Health Organization has declared this a global health emergency. Let's review the warning signs, severe symptoms, and safety measures to protect yourself.
Global public health is once again under close watch as"the Ebola virus"is spreading heavily in the Democratic Republic of Congo, starting from Ituri province. Several new confirmed cases have also been reported in Uganda, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare this situation an international public health emergency. Delays in identifying infected individuals have resulted in more than 220 deaths.
According to the latest data, nearly 10 cases have been confirmed in Uganda, while the Democratic Republic of Congo has nearly 1,000 suspected cases since the outbreak was announced on 10 May 2026. To stay informed and manage health properly, let's take a closer look at this virus.
What is the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus?
The virus currently causing this outbreak is called"Bundibugyo ebolavirus."It belongs to the groupBundibugyo virus(BDBV), classified as a group 4 virus requiring strict control in high-level laboratory settings.
Furthermore, both the United States and the United Kingdom categorize this strain as a pathogen that can be used in biological terrorism, designated as a Category A Priority Agent/Bioterrorism Agent. The name“Bundibugyo”comes from the town where this virus was first identified in Uganda in 2008. Its genome structure contains three overlapping genes and differs from theZaire ebolavirusby more than 30%.
Checking symptomsof the “Ebola virus”What warning signs should we watch for?
Retrospective studies and serological surveys show that some Ebola virus-infected individuals may have very mild or no symptoms. However, for those with notable symptoms, the incubation period averages 6-12 days (ranging from as early as 2 days up to 21 days after exposure). Symptoms can be broadly divided into two main types: those with severe bleeding and those with severe fluid loss.
1. Early initial symptoms
- Sudden chills and high fever with a slow pulse (similar to typhus fever)
- Fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and loss of appetite
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
2. Skin and gastrointestinal symptoms
- Raised red rash: Typically appears on days 5-7 of illness on the face, neck, arms, and trunk. This rash is usually not itchy and may peel off later.
- Severe diarrhea: Profuse watery diarrhea, sometimes up to 10 liters per day, accompanied by abdominal pain. This can lead to severe dehydration, low blood pressure, and shock.
3. Severe symptoms in the final stage
- Bleeding: Blood may appear in stool, small purple spots fromlow platelet counts,or large purple bruises under the skin. Bleeding from the mouth, nose, and blood draw sites often occurs, mostly in late-stage patients or pregnant women.
- Central nervous system abnormalities: Inflammation of the brain and meninges can cause confusion, stiff neck, unsteady walking, muscle pain, and seizures.
- Cardiac system: Pericarditis or myocarditis may develop, causing chest pain and tightness.
- Respiratory system: Rapid, shallow breathing leads to oxygen deficiency. Respiratory muscles can become fatigued, resulting in respiratory failure (observed in over 30% of cases in previous West African outbreaks).
- Transmission and diagnosis: Currently, there is no definitive proof of how the virus spreads to humans, but medical experts suspect"bats"are the main carriers, as they can harbor and promote growth of similar viruses. Laboratory diagnosis often shows low white blood cell and platelet counts, elevated kidney function tests, abnormal pancreatic and liver enzymes. Accurate confirmation is done using RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction).
Fatality rate and“Post-Ebola Syndrome”The severity of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus lies in its ability to disrupt multiple organ functions, leading to death. Outbreak statistics from 1976 to 2022 indicate an average fatality rate of approximately 32.8% for this strain.
Survivors generally improve by the second week but remain at risk of complications such as bacterial infections, lung damage, or kidney failure. Moreover, many recovered patients face Post-Ebola Syndrome lasting over two years with physical and psychological symptoms, including:
Fatigue, weakness, muscle and joint pain
- Insomnia, headaches, eye pain, and frequent urination
- Skin peeling and hair loss
- Irregular menstruation or increased risk of miscarriage
- Memory loss, depression, or severe anxiety
- Surveillance measures in Thailand
Currently, there is no Ebola outbreak in Thailand. However, the Ministry of Public Health and related agencies in various countries recommend close monitoring, especially screening travelers from high-risk countries, restricting travel in affected areas, and preparing public health systems to prevent the virus from entering the country.
Dr. Rapeepan Rattanawongnara, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), data as of 25 May 2026 GMT+7
