What to know about the outbreak of a rare kind of Ebola
Summary
A rare type of Ebola virus called the Bundibugyo virus has caused a large outbreak in eastern Congo with over 5,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,300 deaths. This outbreak is the largest ever caused by this virus and the deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congo’s history.Key Facts
- The current outbreak in Congo has over 5,000 cases and 2,378 deaths as of August 2026.
- The virus involved is the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain of Ebola with no approved vaccine or specific treatment yet.
- Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or animals, not through the air.
- Symptoms usually begin with fever, headache, muscle pain, and sore throat, then progress to vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes bleeding.
- The Bundibugyo virus was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and has caused only a few smaller outbreaks before.
- Vaccines and treatments for the more common Ebola virus do not work for this rare strain.
- The outbreak started in late April 2026 in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in northeastern Congo.
- Patients receive mostly supportive care like fluids and treatment of symptoms due to lack of specific medicine.
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