A dangerous strain of Ebola virus — one with no approved vaccine and no targeted antiviral treatment — is spreading across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, prompting the United States to commit $270 million in response funding, restrict entry for travelers from affected countries, and activate enhanced screening at three major U.S. airports.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BVD), a strain that has caused only two prior outbreaks in recorded history — and for which the medical world has never developed a licensed vaccine or treatment. That gap in preparedness is now the central challenge facing public health officials as the outbreak grows.
What Makes This Outbreak Different from 2014
The 2014–2016 West African Ebola epidemic — the deadliest in history — was caused by the Zaire ebolavirus. In the years since, researchers developed two FDA-approved Zaire vaccines, one of which proved highly effective during subsequent outbreaks. Those vaccines do not protect against the Bundibugyo virus.
As the World Health Organization classified the current outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026, it did so with the full understanding that existing medical countermeasures would not apply. The DRC Ministry of Health declared the outbreak on May 15, 2026, after a cluster of severe illnesses emerged among healthcare workers in the Bunia Health Zone in northeastern DRC's Ituri Province.
According to the CDC's MMWR Early Release, as of June 2, 2026, there were 378 confirmed cases and 63 confirmed deaths. By June 13, 2026, those figures had grown substantially: the DRC Ministry of Health reported 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths, while Uganda, which confirmed outbreak cases linked to an imported case from DRC, recorded 19 additional cases.
| Metric | Data (as of June 13, 2026) |
| DRC confirmed cases | 676 |
| DRC confirmed deaths | 136 |
| Uganda confirmed cases | 19 |
| WHO declaration | Public Health Emergency of International Concern (May 17, 2026) |
| Ebola strain | Bundibugyo virus (BVD) |
| Approved vaccine for BVD | None |
| Approved treatment for BVD | None |
| U.S. total response funding | $270 million (State Department) |
| CEPI new investment | $50 million (announced June 12, 2026) |
| CEPI vaccine candidates in development | 4 |
| U.S. airports with enhanced screening | Washington Dulles (IAD), Atlanta (ATL), Houston (IAH) |
The U.S. Response: Airport Screening, Travel Restrictions, and a $270M Commitment
On May 18, 2026, the CDC and Department of Homeland Security jointly implemented enhanced travel screening and entry restrictions under authority granted by the Public Health Service Act. Foreign nationals who were in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days before arrival are now barred from entering the United States. U.S. citizens, nationals, and lawful permanent residents from those countries may enter but are required to route through designated airports.
Per CDC guidance, affected air passengers must arrive through Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), or George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston. Enhanced public health screenings at these airports are conducted by CDC officers. Travelers with fever or other symptoms are immediately evaluated; those reasonably believed to be infected or exposed are transferred to hospitals and isolated.
On June 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced that it intends to provide $50 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to develop medical countermeasures specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain. That commitment brings the State Department's total direct funding of the Ebola response to $270 million. The CEPI funding will support laboratory studies, clinical trials, and manufacturing for Bundibugyo vaccine candidates.
"With no licensed vaccines against Bundibugyo virus, we must move at speed," said Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, in a statement. "This funding will help CEPI accelerate the development of life-saving countermeasures to control this outbreak and strengthen the world's defenses against future Bundibugyo virus epidemics."
CEPI has already committed more than $60 million to a portfolio of four vaccine candidates, including an mRNA vaccine from Moderna and candidates from IAVI and the University of Oxford. Gavi has separately opened a financing line of up to $50 million through its First Response Fund.
What Travelers and the Public Need to Know
The CDC's current risk assessment for the general U.S. public remains low. The relative risk of importation of Bundibugyo virus to the United States, compared to other locations globally, is modeled at approximately 1.3%. No cases associated with this outbreak have been confirmed in the United States. One American healthcare worker who was exposed while caring for patients in DRC has tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus and is currently receiving treatment in Germany.
The Bundibugyo virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people, or with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids. It is not airborne. Healthcare workers and family caregivers in direct contact with symptomatic patients are at the highest risk.
The CDC lists the following symptoms of Bundibugyo virus disease: fever, headache, severe weakness, vomiting, abdominal pain, nosebleeds, and vomiting blood. The case fatality rate for this strain is estimated at 25% to 50%, lower than Zaire Ebola's historical rates but still presenting a severe threat. There is no specific, approved antiviral therapy; treatment is supportive, focused on maintaining hydration and vital functions.
Anyone who has traveled to DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan recently and develops these symptoms should call a healthcare provider before going to a clinic or emergency room, to allow for appropriate isolation protocols.
Can the U.S. Contain This?
The CDC's Laboratory Response Network is supporting diagnostic testing capacity at more than 40 U.S. laboratories, and the agency is providing clinical consultation for suspected cases. The CDC's 30-day public health order restricting entry from affected countries is designed to reduce the likelihood of community transmission.
The outcome will depend significantly on whether the outbreak is controlled at its source. As the CDC notes, ensuring sufficient public health resources to contain the outbreak in DRC is "necessary for maintaining a low risk to the U.S. population." The combination of healthcare system fragility in the affected region and the absence of any approved vaccine creates conditions in which the outbreak could expand — making the race to develop a Bundibugyo vaccine not just a humanitarian priority, but a direct U.S. public health interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an Ebola outbreak in the United States?
No. As of June 2026, no cases of Bundibugyo virus disease linked to this outbreak have been confirmed in the United States. One American exposed in DRC is being treated in Germany. The CDC considers the risk to the general U.S. public to be low.
What airports are screening for Ebola?
Travelers from DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan must route through Washington Dulles (IAD), Atlanta (ATL), or Houston George Bush (IAH) airports, where CDC officers conduct enhanced public health screenings.
Why doesn't the Ebola vaccine from 2014 work against this outbreak?
The Merck rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine (Ervebo) and the Janssen Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo vaccine was designed to target the Zaire ebolavirus species. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a genetically distinct species that these vaccines do not protect against.
What are the symptoms of Bundibugyo virus disease?
Fever, headache, severe weakness, vomiting, abdominal pain, nosebleeds, and vomiting blood. Symptoms typically appear within 2 to 21 days of exposure. Anyone with these symptoms who has traveled to affected regions in the past three weeks should call a healthcare provider immediately before seeking in-person care.
Should U.S. travelers cancel trips to Africa?
The CDC has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for DRC (reconsider nonessential travel to provinces with cases) and a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Uganda (practice enhanced precautions). Travelers to other parts of Africa are not currently under formal restrictions, but should monitor CDC travel health notices.
