The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has now recorded at least 1,792 confirmed cases and 625 confirmed deaths, according to ECDC data as of July 9, 2026 — and the U.S. entry restriction order that has been screening and limiting travelers from the affected region is scheduled to expire in approximately eight days.
The current 30-day order was issued June 21, 2026, extending measures that have been in place since May 18. Under the order, most foreign nationals who have been in DRC, South Sudan, or Uganda within the previous 21 days are temporarily prohibited from entering the United States. U.S. citizens and nationals, as well as certain government and military personnel, may still enter but are routed through one of four designated airports for enhanced public health screening: Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The CDC, Department of Homeland Security, and other federal authorities will need to decide whether to issue a further renewal order before July 21, based on the outbreak's current trajectory. If the order is not renewed, entry restrictions and mandatory airport screening would lapse — even as the outbreak remains active and the WHO has not determined it is stabilizing.
Why This Matters
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola currently driving this outbreak is not the same as the Zaire strain responsible for the 2014–2016 West African epidemic — and that distinction is critical for Americans who may assume prior Ebola preparedness translates directly to the current outbreak.
The two licensed Ebola vaccines — Ervebo and the Mvabea/Zabdeno regimen — both target the Zaire strain and have not been established as effective against Bundibugyo by the WHO. The WHO recommended against their use in this outbreak. There is no approved vaccine for Bundibugyo virus disease. Treatment is entirely supportive.
A clinical trial evaluating two experimental therapies — the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral remdesivir — began in DRC on July 2, 2026, with more than 1,200 treatment doses available. Those studies are ongoing; no results have been published.
The WHO has not been able to say the outbreak is stabilizing. WHO Representative to the DRC Dr. Anne Ancia told reporters on July 8: "We would like to say it is stabilising, but frankly, we cannot say it yet."
What We Know So Far
The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the WHO on May 17, 2026 — only the eighth PHEIC declaration in the history of modern international health regulations. It was confirmed on May 15, 2026, in Ituri Province of northeastern DRC.
This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. It has surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases within 40 days of response activation — the 2018 North Kivu outbreak took approximately 235 days to reach that threshold. The current outbreak is now the third largest Ebola outbreak on record.
As of July 9, 2026, confirmed cases in DRC break down as follows, per ECDC data: Ituri Province remains the epicenter with 1,631 cases and 535 deaths across 25 of 36 health zones; North Kivu has 158 cases and 89 deaths across 11 health zones; South Kivu has 3 cases and 1 death. Uganda's last confirmed case was reported June 21, and no new cases have been reported from Uganda since then.
One imported case was confirmed in a U.S. citizen — a missionary physician working in eastern DRC — who was medically evacuated to Germany for treatment in May 2026. No cases of Bundibugyo virus disease have been confirmed in the United States from this outbreak. The CDC has consistently assessed the risk of Bundibugyo virus spreading within the United States as low, given the country's public health infrastructure and the virus's transmission mechanism, which requires direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person.
Where the Risk Is Concentrated
The outbreak's risk zone remains centered on eastern DRC — specifically Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. The affected health zones span areas affected by armed conflict, population displacement, mining-related population movement, and frequent cross-border travel, all of which have complicated outbreak response.
The CDC recommends avoiding non-essential travel to Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces in DRC. Travelers to other parts of DRC or Uganda are advised to take precautions to avoid Ebola exposure and to monitor for symptoms for 21 days after leaving.
For travelers who have returned from DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days, state and local health departments are conducting active follow-up monitoring. If you have recently returned and develop any fever or unexplained illness, you should contact your local health department before seeking medical care — and disclose your travel history immediately.
What Doctors and Experts Say
The CDC's Health Alert Network advisory on the outbreak emphasizes that because people exposed to Ebola may travel before symptoms begin, layered prevention measures at points of entry are the primary public health tool for preventing importation. The current airport screening program — covering Dulles, Atlanta, Houston Intercontinental, and JFK — is the operational expression of that strategy.
The WHO has stressed that without an approved vaccine and with treatment limited to supportive care, response strategies rely heavily on early case detection, infection prevention and control, contact tracing, safe burial practices, and community engagement. All four elements have been challenged by active armed conflict in parts of the outbreak zone.
Dr. Anne Ancia, WHO Representative to the DRC, acknowledged on July 8 that the outbreak cannot yet be called stabilizing. She said that while progress is being made on some response measures, the geographic spread across multiple health zones and provinces continues to create significant surveillance and epidemiological gaps.
What the Evidence Shows and What It Does Not
MedicalDaily Evidence Check
- Pathogen: Bundibugyo virus (species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense), one of four Ebola species that cause disease in humans
- Confirmed cases as of July 9, 2026 (ECDC): 1,792 in DRC; approximately 20 in Uganda (no new Uganda cases since June 21)
- Confirmed deaths: approximately 625 in DRC; 2 in Uganda
- U.S. cases: None
- U.S. risk assessment (CDC): Low
- Approved vaccine for Bundibugyo: None; existing Zaire-strain vaccines not established as effective
- U.S. entry restriction order expiration: Approximately July 21, 2026 (renewal decision pending)
- What the evidence does not confirm: Whether the outbreak is stabilizing; whether renewal of U.S. entry restrictions will be issued before July 21
Who Is Most at Risk?
For Americans, the primary risk groups are:
- U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have traveled to or plan to travel to DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan
- Global health workers, aid workers, and missionaries working in eastern DRC
- Healthcare workers who may see returning travelers with fever and other compatible symptoms
- Travelers connecting through airports in affected regions who may not have initially recognized their exposure risk
For the global population, the most severely affected are residents of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces — communities facing compounding crises of armed conflict, displacement, and an active Ebola outbreak without an approved vaccine.
Symptoms and Warning Signs to Watch For
Symptoms of Bundibugyo virus disease typically appear 2 to 21 days after exposure, with an average onset of 8 to 10 days.
Early or "dry" symptoms may include: fever, severe headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and weakness. As the disease progresses, it typically moves to "wet" symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and in some cases unexplained bleeding or bruising.
If you have been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days and develop any fever or other symptoms that could be Ebola: do not go to an emergency room or clinic without calling first. Contact your local health department immediately, disclose your travel history, and follow their instructions for evaluation and transport. Early isolation and notification prevent potential spread to healthcare workers and other patients.
What You Can Do Now
- If you have traveled to DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days and have not registered with your local health department, do so now. Contact information is available through your state health department .
- Monitor yourself for fever and other Ebola-compatible symptoms for 21 days after leaving the affected region.
- If you develop symptoms, call your local health department before going to a medical facility.
- If you are planning travel to DRC or Uganda, check the CDC Travel Health Notice for DRC and follow all current precautions before departing.
- Track the expiration and any renewal of U.S. entry restrictions at the CDC Ebola situation summary page , which is updated when new orders are issued.
- MedicalDaily will report immediately on any renewal or lapse of U.S. entry restrictions around July 21.
Cost and Access: What Patients Should Know
Healthcare facilities across the United States have been strengthening Ebola preparedness protocols since the outbreak began in May 2026. Any hospital that receives a patient with fever and recent travel to DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan is expected to activate its Ebola triage protocol — which includes early isolation, contact precautions, and notification of public health authorities.
For returning travelers being monitored by health departments, follow-up support is provided at no cost. If you need to identify your local health department, visit cdc.gov/EbolaContactUs or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
What Happens Next
The June 21 entry restriction order expires approximately July 21, 2026. Federal authorities must decide in the next eight days whether to issue a further renewal. If they do, enhanced screening at Dulles, Atlanta, Houston, and JFK will continue. If they do not, those measures lapse — even though the WHO has not declared the outbreak over or stabilized.
The WHO is expected to publish its next weekly situation report on July 13, 2026. ECDC publishes updates regularly. MedicalDaily will report on any renewal order, significant changes in case counts, or updates from the treatment trial currently underway in DRC.
The Bottom Line
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DRC has killed more than 625 people and infected nearly 1,800 — making it the third-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded — and it is not yet stabilizing. The U.S. entry restriction and airport screening program that has been in place since May 18 is set to expire in approximately eight days. There is no approved vaccine and no proven treatment. For Americans, the direct risk remains low. For travelers who have returned from the affected region, active symptom monitoring and health department engagement are mandatory — not optional. The next eight days will determine whether the public health firewall at U.S. airports remains in place.
