Ebola Update: DRC Cases and Deaths Increase as Uganda Marks Outbreak's End

The Ebola outbreak numbers continue to increase within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—which has been the epicenter—and the country is reporting more cases and deaths even as neighboring Uganda has formally declared its outbreak over.

This outbreak has been caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, and this strain has its own unique challenges. “It's not typically picked up by traditional testing that looks for the more common species of Ebola, such as Zaire ebolavirus or Sudan virus. One of the challenges with this specific outbreak is it likely has been spreading for some time before it was detected, because testing may not have been for this specific area,” Gavin Harris, MD, associate medical director of the Serious Communicable Diseases Unit at Emory University, said in a past interview with Contagion. “The other challenge with Bundibugyo is that we don't have licensed medical countermeasures like we do for the more common species that cause Ebola virus disease.”

DRC: Cases and Deaths Continue to Increase

As of August 18, there have been 5208 confirmed cases and 2476 related deaths in the DRC. Additionally, 730 patients are currently hospitalized. Compared with the previous update, which covered data up to August 16, this represents an increase of 187 new confirmed cases and 98 additional deaths.¹

Of those who had positive test results for Ebola, 1115 patients have recovered.¹ The outbreak's geographic footprint remains extensive: 56 of the country's 151 health zones are currently affected, spanning 6 provinces.¹ Contact tracing efforts are ongoing, with 84% of identified case contacts in the affected provinces currently under follow-up.¹

Health authorities have noted that figures on confirmed cases and deaths reported by the DRC remain under continuous review and harmonization, meaning totals may be revised as data are verified and reconciled.¹

Uganda Declared Ebola Free

Uganda's outbreak, linked to the wider regional epidemic, has been declared over, according to health officials. The country's Ministry of Health had recorded a total of 20 confirmed cases, including 2 deaths.¹ The last confirmed case in Uganda was reported on June 21, and no new cases followed.¹

On July 16, Uganda discharged its final patient with Ebola, who had been receiving treatment at the Mulago National Referral Isolation Centre.¹ Twelve days later, having passed the required postdischarge monitoring window, Uganda's Ministry of Health formally declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak.¹

American Treated for Ebola

Peter Stafford, MD, a US citizen who was working as a missionary in Africa, tested positive for Ebola back in May after treating patients during the outbreak. He and a few other Americans (including his family members) who were exposed to the virus were flown to an American military base in Germany. Stafford was successfully treated and has flown home to the US.²

There have been other cases in the past where US missionaries have contracted Ebola and been flown to places outside Africa to be treated. (Check out our series that covers the first Americans to contract Ebola in Africa who were flown back to the US for treatment.)

Transmission Considerations in Africa vs the US

In Africa, Ebola is often spread in remote, rural areas that have limited medical providers, limited health care infrastructure, and no protection for the greater population. And often in these environments, it is women on the front lines, whether they are health care workers or family members, caring for people with this high-consequence infectious disease.

“Outbreaks follow social realities. In many patriarchal societies, women are primarily responsible for cooking, cleaning, and childcare. They are also expected to care for sick relatives, clean contaminated bedding, bring food and water, accompany loved ones to clinics, comfort children, tend to the dying, and prepare bodies for burial. Women also make up a large share of the frontline health workforce, including nurses, community health workers, and informal caregivers. This labor is lifesaving. During outbreaks, it can also be deadly,” Syra Madad, DHSc, MSc, MCP, CHEP; and Uzma Syed, DO, FIDSA, wrote in a recent commentary for Contagion.

With an abundance of infrastructure and highly trained medical providers, the US typically would fare better if Ebola came to this country. In recent years, there have been a handful of isolated cases without large spread or transmission. “The circumstances by which Ebola spreads in Africa are very different than how it could spread here. We just don't have the same sort of vulnerability due to our health care infrastructure, public health, etc,” David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said in a past interview with Contagion.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the likelihood of Ebola spreading to the US is very low.³

Check back for further commentary from experts on Ebola.

References
1. Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. August 19, 2026. Accessed August 20, 2026.
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/ebola-outbreak-democratic-republic-congo-and-uganda

2. Smith A, Williams A. Ebola deaths rise sharply as outbreak’s ‘scale and speed’ worry WHO chief. NBC News. May 19, 2026. Accessed May 20, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/africa/ebola-outbreak-deaths-rise-scale-speed-concerns-who-congo-uganda-rcna345833

3. Ebola outbreak: current situation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 19, 2026. Accessed August 20, 2026.
https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/situation-summary/index.html