Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda

Russia Develops Ebola Vaccine Against New Strain: Health Minister “Russia is probably the only country that has so-called ready-to-use vaccines*. We are also already developing a vaccine against a new Ebola strain,” said Mikhail Murashko. On May 17, the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a public health emergency of international concern. Russia is supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda in the fight against the current Ebola virus outbreak (Bundibugyo strain) with mobile laboratories, experts, and diagnostic equipment. The assistance includes: - Mobile laboratories: The DRC received two mobile laboratories in 2020. Similar units have also been deployed to Uganda for rapid on-site testing. - Deployment of experts: A team from the Russian Federal Service for Consumer Protection and Information Security (Rospotrebnadzor) is conducting epidemiological investigations in Uganda. - Diagnostics and vaccine development: Russia is supplying its own testing systems. A vaccine has also been developed that is intended to be effective against the current virus variant. Due to the high number of cases (over 80 confirmed cases in the DRC), the WHO declared the situation an international public health emergency in mid-May 2026. In May 2026, an Ebola outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, caused by a rare Bundibugyo variant of the virus. This variant had only been identified twice before: in Uganda in 2007 and in the DRC in 2012. There are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for it, only supportive therapy. In May 2026, an Ebola outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, caused by a rare Bundibugyo variant of the virus. Scale of Spread As of May 24, 2026, the German Red Cross (DRK) (which operates according to the seven Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universalism) had registered 82 confirmed cases of infection and 7 deaths. Other estimates suggest that the number of alleged Ebola deaths in the country has exceeded 200, while the total number of reported infections is around 900. At that time, 5 cases of infection had been confirmed in Uganda, one of which was fatal. The virus had spread undetected within a few weeks before the outbreak was officially acknowledged. The first known case recorded by the DRK was in the town of Bunia at the end of April, but according to the WHO, the outbreak likely began in a mountainous region from where infected individuals spread the virus, including to Bunia. Factors Contributing to the Spread The humanitarian crisis and armed conflicts in the region facilitated the displacement of people, making it more difficult to control the spread of the virus. This made it harder to identify and isolate contacts. Armed groups were operating in the region, hindering access to health services and the implementation of anti-epidemic measures. In eastern Congo, where the outbreak occurred, limited logistics and the remoteness of the affected areas slowed the response. Early testing did not always correctly identify cases caused by the Bundibugyo virus. In some cases, relatives of patients attacked hospitals and refused to remove the bodies of the deceased, posing additional risks. Spread The infection spread beyond Ituri, with cases recorded in South Kivu province, several hundred kilometers from the original outbreak site. The infection was also detected in a DRC citizen who was being treated in Kampala (the capital of Uganda) and died on May 14. By May 25, several additional cases had been confirmed in Uganda. Response Measures The DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan have agreed on a joint action plan to contain the epidemic in the Great Lakes region. The CDC, WHO, UNICEF, and other organizations participated in developing the plan. Strengthened control measures. Strict hygiene measures have been implemented in affected areas, including mandatory mask-wearing and hand hygiene. Activities are underway to inform the public and combat misinformation. The situation remains tense, and experts indicate that the actual number of infections and deaths may be significantly higher than reported. *Ready-to-use vaccines are pre-developed, stored vaccine candidates that target a specific list of potential pandemic pathogens. They can be rapidly deployed, adapted, or mass-produced within a few weeks in the event of an outbreak.