2026 Ebola Epidemic
In short
The 2026 Ebola epidemic is a major outbreak of Ebola virus disease primarily affecting the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. It began following initial reports in the Ituri Province on 14 May 2026.
In plain words
A large number of people are getting very sick from a dangerous virus in parts of Africa. It started spreading in early 2026 and is the seventeenth time this has happened in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A simple example
Health workers in Mongbwalu are tracking how the virus moved from early cases in January to the wider outbreak seen in May.
Why it matters
Ebola is a deadly disease that requires rapid medical response to stop it from spreading across borders. This outbreak is particularly concerning because it started shortly after a previous epidemic ended.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse this specific 2026 outbreak with the many previous Ebola outbreaks that have occurred in the same region over the last decade.