Beyond past Ebola outbreaks: delayed detection, preparedness gaps, and the vaccine race during the 2026 Bundibugyo virus outbreak
Abstract
What makes the current Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), caused by the Bundibugyo virus Diseases (Orthoebolavirus), different from previous Ebola outbreaks over the past five decades? This question has gained renewed urgency following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 20261. This declaration occurred only two days after the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the Ministry of Health of Uganda declared an outbreak of Ebola Disease following the confirmation of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in both countries1–3.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
Mosquito-borne diseases and control
Zoonotic diseases and public health
Publication details
- Journal / source
- International Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 170
- Pages
- 108843–108843
- Publication date
- 29 May 2026
- Language
- EN