Epidemiological toll continues to climb

After expanding screening capacity in late May, the DRC ministry of health updated its figures. As of 4 june 2026, the official count from the INRB in the Democratic Republic of the Congo stands at:

• 381 confirmed cases;
• 64 confirmed deaths;
• 233 suspected patients currently in isolation.

In Uganda, the situation remains under watch with 19 reported cases and one death as of 5 june.

MSF opens and rehabilitates ebola treatment centres

To fight the spread of the Bundibugyo virus and break transmission chains, MSF teams are tailoring their response in the hardest-hit areas.

Bunia: a centre expanding under patient influx

In Bunia, the centre is experiencing overcrowding. On 5 june, the facility housed 37 suspected patients and 7 confirmed ones. Given the risk of further spread, the centre is being enlarged. “We are preparing a new plot and will double our capacity to reach 70 beds within days,” explains Anthony Kergosien, emergency coordinator in Bunia. If needed, the centre can expand to up to 100 beds.

Goma: reopening a historic treatment centre

In Goma, MSF has reopened a dedicated treatment centre to isolate suspected cases and care for confirmed patients. The first admissions took place on 28 may.

“This centre was used during previous outbreaks. Teams start by speaking with patients, trying to reassure them about what will happen, explaining the care, average length of stay, and the samples that will be taken,” says Tathy Modjaka Nzoko, MSF medical activities manager in Goma.

Healthcare worker safety and community trust: pillars of the response

Protecting medical staff against the virus

Medical personnel are equipped with personal protective equipment to ensure effective protection against the Bundibugyo virus. The infectious dose of this virus is very low. “Just a few viral particles in the wrong place, such as the eyes or mouth, can trigger the disease.”

The protective gear is designed mainly to keep the ebola virus off the skin. “To achieve this, it must be waterproof, because the virus is transmitted through bodily fluids. This is especially critical as we do not have the vaccines and treatments we usually rely on.”, says Armand Sprecher, emergency physician and epidemiologist for MSF.

Building trust with local communities

For patients to agree to isolate promptly, explanation and awareness work is essential.

“Trust between MSF and the local population is important. People typically care for their families at home. Yet we need them to come immediately to a treatment centre. The fact that our equipment makes us look like beings from another planet can make them reluctant to do so. We therefore explain why we wear this gear, and that many of the people in these suits are people they know,” according to Armand Sprecher.

Transferring skills and training teams

To ensure a large-scale response, MSF focuses on sharing expertise. Specific training is provided at a centre in Belgium before teams deploy to the field.

“In every ebola outbreak, knowledge transfer is a key part of the response. There are people within MSF who have extensive experience in outbreak response. So we send to the field those who know their work, or who can train others,” says Armand Sprecher.

I donate to the MSF Emergency Fund

Understanding the Bundibugyo virus: what makes this outbreak different

Unlike previous waves in the DRC, this outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo ebola virus (belonging to the orthoebolavirus family, which also includes the Zaire and Sudan viruses).

Although the case fatality rate of the Bundibugyo virus is lower than that of classic ebola (ranging between 25 and 40%), the medical response faces a major challenge: there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for this specific virus.

MSF’s humanitarian action continues across the country

Hundreds of MSF professionals remain deployed in the affected areas of Ituri and North Kivu, while new care capacities are being set up in South Kivu. Each week, several tonnes of medical and logistical supplies continue to arrive in the DRC from our international hubs to support the intervention.