SitRep 001
Report date 2026-05-14
Machine translation from the French original with Google Gemini. No person has reviewed it.
Every number on this page was compared against the French transcription, and the page is published only if they match. The wording carries no such check. Before relying on any figure, read it in the original PDF.
Ebola Virus Disease Situation Report/17th outbreak
SitRep MVE (Ebola virus disease) N° 001/2026
Country/Province DRC/Ituri
Health Zone affected Mongbwalu, Bunia and Rwampara
Reporting date 14 May 2026
Publication date 15 May 2026
| Alert | Confirmed Cases | Suspected Cases | Confirmed deaths | Bed occupancy rate among confirmed cases | Bed occupancy rate among suspected cases | Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 261 | 8 | 246 | 4 | ? | ? | ? |
I. HIGHLIGHTS
3 ZS (health zone) /36 are affected including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.
8 confirmed cases including 4 deaths .
Holding of the second meeting of national emergency coordination with all stakeholders around the DG of the INSP (National Institute of Public Health) on the MVE_ITURI situation.
Context
The COUSP (public health emergency operations centre)/DRC picked up an alert reporting clustered deaths of unknown etiology in the Mongbwalu Health Zone (90 Km from Bunia), Djugu territory in the province of Ituri, which itself is located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A prior health signal dated 05 May 2026 from the health staff of the Mongbwalu health zone before being officially notified on 8 May following reports of unexplained clustered deaths (50 deaths via social media).
Between 1st April and 13 May 2026, 261 – 280 suspected and probable including 100 deaths(55 in-hospital and 45 community deaths in the health zone of Mongbwalu) were reported, among which 4 deaths, all healthcare workers.
All these cases came from the Health Zones (ZS) of Mongbwalu, Rwampara and Bunia.
The focus is located in Quartier Shun (or Sun 1) in Mongbwalu (Alimasi 1 and 2 avenues).
The event reportedly occurred in a context of strong suspicion of a community epidemic, initially marked by rapid and unexplained deaths, of which certain cases were reportedly linked to body handling practices and high-risk funeral rituals and prayer groups .
After the review of in-hospital deaths some common clinical signs such as fever, headache, vomiting, intense physical asthenia in the majority of cases and dyspnoea, haematemesis epistaxis, blackish vomiting in other cases were noted.
The investigations conducted by the EIR on the date of … enabled 28 samples to be taken from suspected cases.
Initially, the preliminary tests carried out at the INRB/Bunia were all negative for Zaire Ebola, dengue, Rotavirus, Cholera, Malaria, Yersinia pestis, MPOX and COVID-19 before dispatching 13 of these samples to the INRB/Kinshasa.
On the date of 14 May 2026, 8 cases proved positive for Ebola virus disease (Bundibugyo/Uganda strain) after the tests performed at the INRB Kinshasa.
This will be the 17th epidemic of Ebola virus disease in DRC.
II. UPDATE ON THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION
1st April and 13 May 2026, 246 suspected cases including 80 deaths were reported, among which 4 deaths, all healthcare workers.
All these cases came from the Health Zones (ZS) of Mongbwalu, Rwampara and Bunia
The main focus is located in Quartier Shun (or Sun 1) in Mongbwalu, particularly on Alimasi 1 and 2 avenues
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Confirmed Ebola cases | 8 |
| Samples to be retested | 4 |
| Estimated suspected/probable cases | 246 |
| HGR Mongbwalu hospital deaths | 55 |
| Mongbwalu community deaths | 2 |
| Healthcare workers deceased | ≥4 |
| Contacts identified | ≥82 |
| Affected ZS | 3 |
[FIGURE: Map]
the magnitude of the deaths ; the rapidity of progression ; the involvement of healthcare workers ; and the haemorrhagic forms observed ; suggest high fatality compatible with a severe outbreak of MVE.
III. COORDINATION
Holding of national coordination meetings meetings with all stakeholders and these provinces.
Preparation of the MVE_17 ITURI response plan at the COUSP in response mode
Preparation of the cascade activation of EIRs and equipet
Preparation of the deployment of teams to all levels
IV. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE
Official notification of the alert on 8 May 2026 following rumours of clustered deaths.
Preliminary investigation having enabled the origin of the event to be traced to the Shun neighbourhood (Mongbwalu) as early as 5 May
Investigation of 3 validated and sampled alerts,
Holding of meeting with 5 ITs and ECZ on the active search for community and in-hospital deaths,
Pre-listing of contacts (63 contacts) and remains to be completed
Strengthening of active surveillance in 3 AS (health area) (CECA 20, Mongbwalu and Abelkozo),
Compilation of contact lists to initiate tracing.
Active search for suspected VHF cases at Mongbwalu hospital,
Securing of bodies,
V. LABORATORY
First thirteen samples taken including 2 analysed by RDT with negative result (Dengue, MPOX, Malaria, Yesinia pestis, COVID-19, Rotavirus and Cholera),
Biological sampling on suspected cases of 28 samples and dispatch to INRB/Kinshasa for analysis.
VII. INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL (PCI/WASH)
PCI (infection prevention and control) evaluation, CS Abelkozo (score 7%), HGR (general referral hospital) Mongbwalu (score 34%)
PCI briefing : hand hygiene, waste management and isolation of patients ✓ Preparation of isolation at HGR Mongbwalu
Implementation of Infection Prevention and Control (PCI) measures in local healthcare facilities, despite implementation difficulties.
IX. RISK COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Initial sensitisation of community leaders and religious leaders to counter rumours of a “mystical disease”.
X. SECURITY
Daily security monitoring.
CHALLENGES AND GAPS
Lack of compliant isolation, drafting of the PAI and designation of SGI
Lack of PCI supplies, sampling kits
Need for RCCE to manage community rumours,
Staff not trained in PCI, sampling, transport and conservation of samples, surveillance, management of diseases with epidemic potential
Lack of triage at HGR Mongbwalu and CS
Performance of complete SDB
Urgent need of urgent need for compliant CTE (Ebola treatment centre) in the 3 ZS in epidemics
XIII. OUTLOOK
Organise and standardise Safe and Dignified Burials (EDS) to neutralise the major source of contamination represented by bodies.
Install or strengthen Ebola Treatment Centres (CTE) for early patient care.
Intensify community engagement to stop massive collective prayers and high-risk funeral rituals.
Resolve the crisis of confidence between the Health Zone and the population by providing transparent information on biological confirmations.
Trigger immediate cross-border coordination with Uganda and South Sudan to monitor population movements at borders.
The activation of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (COUSP) through the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) in response mode, level 1 according to the concept of operations.
An appeal for the mobilisation of technical and financial partners to show solidarity and relieve the suffering of populations behind the action of the government of the republic as well stated: One coordination team, One plan and One budget ;
The strengthening of epidemiological and biological surveillance in affected and at-risk health zones,
Holistic and free care of Ebola cases and rapid as well as strict isolation of suspected or confirmed patients,
The strengthening of risk communication on the disease and community engagement against this disease in a concerning security context and high demography as well as significant population mobility,
The immediate deployment of rapid response teams (EIR) in cascade to protect and save human lives.
Also, the deployment of basic medicines, safe blood, therapeutic molecules and laboratory reagents and equipment cannot brook any delay ;
ILLUSTRATION
[PHOTO]
Coordination meeting with the DG of the INSP
[PHOTO]
PROVINCIAL COORDINATION MEETING
FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
For the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) of the DRC
The Director General of the INSP
Dr MWAMBA KAZADI Dieudonné
Tel. : +243 816 040 145
E-mail : dieudonnemwambakazadi@gmail.com
The COU-SP Coordinator
Prof NGANDU Christian
Tel. : +243998091915
E-mail : nganduchristian@ymail.com
The Incident Manager SGI MVE Epi17
E-mail :
For the World Health Organization (WHO/DRC)
The ad interim Representative of WHO in DRC
Dr
E-mail : @who.int
WHO Incident Manager in the MVE response
E-mail: @who.int
The Team Lead Cluster EPR of WHO in DRC
Dr Mouctar Diallo
E-mail : dialloam@who.int