Ebola Disease: Current Situation

For Everyone

Key points

  • CDC is monitoring an outbreak of Ebola disease in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
  • To date, no cases of Ebola disease have been confirmed in the United States because of this outbreak.
  • The overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low.

Current situation

Implementing measures to prevent Ebola from entering the United States

On May 18, 2026, CDC and DHS implemented enhanced travel screening, entry restrictions, and public health measures to prevent Ebola virus disease from entering the United States amid ongoing outbreaks in East and Central Africa.

Title 42 Order Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Persons from Countries Where a Quarantinable Communicable Disease Exists

CDC Statement on the Use of Public Health Travel Restrictions to Prevent the Introduction of Ebola Disease into the United States

  • In early May, a hospital in Bunia Health Zone in northeastern DRC identified a cluster of severe illnesses affecting healthcare workers.
  • Initial samples tested in DRC were negative for Ebola virus, but by May 15, 8 out of 13 samples tested positive, and 5 were inconclusive. Using genetic fingerprinting, the illnesses were identified as Bundibugyo (Bun-dee-BOO-joh) virus, one of the 4 types of orthoebolaviruses that cause Ebola disease in people.
  • There is no vaccine for Bundibugyo virus, and treatment consists of supportive care.
  • As of May 17:
    • There are reports of 10 confirmed cases and 336 suspected cases including 88 deaths in DRC
    • There are 2 confirmed cases including 1 death in Uganda in people who traveled from DRC. No further spread has been reported.
    • These numbers are subject to change as the outbreak evolves.
  • Historically, Bundibugyo virus has death rates ranging from 25-50%.
  • Patients have experienced classic Ebola disease symptoms like fever, headache, vomiting, severe weakness, abdominal pain, nosebleeds, and vomiting blood.
  • In DRC, most cases to date have been in people between 20 and 39 years old, and two-thirds have been in female patients.

CDC response

CDC is working with international partners and the Ministries of Health on this evolving situation. CDC is further supporting response efforts through our country offices in DRC and Uganda to provide technical assistance with:

  • Disease tracking and contact tracing
  • Laboratory sample collection and virus sequencing
  • Infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts
  • Local border screening
  • Coordinating with affected countries and international public health partners
  • Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control supplies
  • Risk communication and community engagement in affected areas

In the United States

  • CDC has travel health notices in place for DRC and Uganda to help Americans planning travel to either country in the near future learn how to keep themselves safe from Ebola.
  • CDC has extensive clinical guidance and training for both U.S. and non-U.S. settings, including Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients in U.S. Hospitals who are Suspected or Confirmed to have Selected Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers.
  • CDC is also coordinating with health departments nationwide to:
    • Follow established patient assessment protocols if BVD is suspected in a patient with concerning clinical and epidemiologic history.
    • Coordinate patient management, specimen collection, and BVD testing with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments, CDC, and clinical teams.
  • CDC is also supporting U.S. Government interagency efforts to coordinate the safe withdrawal of a small number of Americans who are directly affected in outbreak areas.
  • Long-standing laboratory preparedness efforts are online for suspected viral hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola to allow for testing directly at CDC or through one of 35 Laboratory Response Network public health laboratories.

Resources

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)