DRC Ebola Infects 75 Health Workers, Killing 17 as Death Toll Reaches 232
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 19
DRC Ebola Infects 75 Health Workers, Killing 17 as Death Toll Reaches 232
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 19
Summary
Seventy-five healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have contracted Ebola since the outbreak was declared on May 15, and 17 have died, WHO said.
Months of undetected spread of the Bundibugyo strain and shortages of gloves, masks and other protective gear left medics exposed in a health system with only about 11 workers per 10,000 people.
The outbreak has killed 232 people and infected 896 across 31 health zones in DRC, while neighboring Uganda has confirmed 19 cases and two deaths; officials say transmission has not yet peaked.
At Kigonze camp in Ituri, at least 30 people have died since early May and testing resistance has hampered confirmation, deepening fears Ebola is spreading among eastern DRC's more than 5 million displaced people.
Nearly $1 billion has been pledged by African Union states, but aid workers say donor cuts have weakened water and sanitation defenses; DRC's $80 million appeal is only 21% funded.
A deadly Ebola strain spreads through conflict zones with no vaccine. How close is the world to another health emergency?
With no vaccine for this deadly Ebola strain, can community trust alone stop the outbreak before it spreads globally?
Bundibugyo Ebola Crisis 2026: DRC Reports 875 Cases, 200 Deaths as Response Faces Major Challenges
Overview
The Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak, declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda in May 2026, has rapidly escalated into a major public health emergency. The DRC faces the highest impact, with hundreds of confirmed cases and deaths, and the outbreak continues to spread across provinces. Uganda’s cases are directly linked to cross-border transmission, highlighting the regional risk. The crisis is made worse by the lack of targeted vaccines or treatments, ongoing conflict, and operational barriers that hinder response efforts. Frontline health workers remain at high risk, and urgent international action is underway to develop medical countermeasures and support affected communities.