---
title: "WHO says Bundibugyo Ebola remains active in eastern Congo as Uganda begins surveillance countdown"
url: https://reviewjourn-l.com/news/bundibugyo-ebola-drc-uganda-july-update/
description: "A July update recorded 2,124 confirmed cases and 828 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Uganda discharged its latest patient."
published: 2026-08-08
updated: 2026-08-08
author: "Reviewjourn L"
---

# WHO says Bundibugyo Ebola remains active in eastern Congo as Uganda begins surveillance countdown

By Reviewjourn L · Published 2026-08-08

Public Health

A July update recorded 2,124 confirmed cases and 828 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Uganda discharged its latest patient.

Source event or release: July 17, 2026

The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak remained active across a widening area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the World Health Organization's July 17 update. WHO recorded 2,124 confirmed cases and 828 deaths in the country as of July 15, while warning that conflict, displacement and limited access to health services continued to obstruct surveillance and infection control.

Cases had been reported in 46 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo provinces. Thirty-eight of those zones had reported a case within the previous 21 days, WHO's measure of continuing activity. At least 390 patients in the DRC had by the reporting date.

Across the DRC, Uganda, France and patients treated after evacuation to Germany, WHO listed 2,145 confirmed cases and 830 deaths. The international total must be read carefully because some people diagnosed in the DRC were later treated elsewhere. WHO also said part of the sharp rise since its earlier update resulted from expanded testing, surveillance and processing of backlogged samples.

Uganda had reported 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths. Fifteen were imported and five occurred among contacts or health workers associated with imported cases. WHO said there was no evidence of community transmission in Uganda. The most recent patient was discharged on July 16 following two negative tests, beginning a 42-day enhanced-surveillance period.

The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus. WHO's situation page said no licensed vaccine or specific treatment was available for this species, although diagnostic tools and treatment candidates were being evaluated. Supportive clinical care, rapid testing, isolation, contact tracing and infection-control measures remained central.

WHO continued to classify the event as a public-health emergency of international concern but advised against general travel or trade restrictions. All figures in this brief are tied to the July reporting dates and should not be treated as live totals.

Reporting basis

## Primary records

- [WHO Disease Outbreak News, July 17 update](https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON613)
- [WHO Ebola outbreak situation page](https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/ebola-outbreak---drc-2026)
- [WHO Africa outbreak page](https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/ebola-disease/outbreak-drc-26)

Facts and qualifications in this brief were checked against these records on August 8, 2026.

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