The number of deaths from Ebola virus infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has risen to at least 100, with nearly 400 suspected infections. The full scope of the outbreak remains uncertain.
On 18 May 2026, the director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) told BBC News that at least 100 deaths have been reported from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), with more than 390 suspected cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this outbreak an international public health emergency.
Sources told CBS News, a BBC partner in the U.S., that at least six Americans have been exposed to or are at risk of Ebola infection during the DR Congo outbreak. One person has begun showing symptoms, while three others have been identified as having close or high-risk exposure.
The Ebola virus strain currently spreading is the "Bundibugyo" strain, for which there are no specific vaccines or treatments available.
Additionally, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that two confirmed cases and one death have also been reported in Uganda.
Sources told the medical news website STAT that the U.S. government is considering arranging transport vehicles to evacuate a small group of Americans in DR Congo to a secure quarantine facility.
During a press conference last Sunday, the CDC declined to answer direct questions about at-risk U.S. citizens exposed to infected individuals but emphasized that the risk of Ebola spreading within the U.S. remains low.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has raised its travel advisory for DR Congo to level 4, the highest warning, advising citizens not to travel there at this time.
The WHO stated that the outbreak in Ituri province in eastern DR Congo constitutes an international public health emergency but does not yet meet the criteria of a pandemic.
However, WHO has warned that this outbreak may be more severe and widespread than currently detected and reported, with a high risk of local and regional spread.
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Source:bbc