The Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to intensify across Ituri and North Kivu provinces, according to an update published by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO). Sustained transmission in hotspot health zones drives the epidemic, which is marked by a rising number of community deaths and geographic expansion.
Epidemiological Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Compared with situational reporting issued on June 28, 2026, the public health crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has deteriorated. According to WHO AFRO data, health authorities recorded an additional 317 confirmed cases and 144 confirmed deaths. These figures represent increases of 24.3% in cumulative cases and 38.2% in cumulative deaths. The crude case fatality ratio climbed from 28.8% to 32.1%. Geographic spread persists as health officials detected the first confirmed case in the Lolwa health zone within Ituri Province, bringing the total number of affected health zones to 36.
Status of Regional and International Spread
While domestic transmission accelerates within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, neighboring Uganda has reported no new confirmed cases during the preceding week, according to WHO AFRO. Internationally, a previously reported imported case in France has fully recovered. Public health monitoring confirmed no evidence of secondary transmission among the identified contacts of that patient.
European Union Response and Support
In response to the escalating epidemic, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety outlined preparedness and intervention measures. According to an update published in July 2026 by health.ec.europa.eu, the European Union response focuses on supporting local containment efforts, strengthening surveillance capacities, and coordinating public health logistics to address the regional threat posed by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
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