Ebola outbreak expands in eastern DRC while Kenya reports no new cases.
Is it spreading beyond DR Congo?
Spread confirmed
As of 11 October 2026, Kenyan health authorities confirmed an imported fatal Ebola case involving a traveler from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while reporting no secondary cases or onward transmission.
Sources: AfricanewsReutersRFIAfricanews 2Key figures
| Figure | Value | Basis | As of | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebola tests conducted in Kenya Stated by Kenyan health officials following an imported fatal case. | 293 | Official | Sources: Reuters | |
| Frontline workers vaccinated in BRAVO trial Vaccinated in Ituri and North Kivu under MSF and Epicentre's study evaluating the ERVEBO vaccine. | 857 | Press reports | Sources: Actualite.cd | |
| Target frontline workers for BRAVO study Target enrollment in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. | 20,000 | Press reports | Sources: Actualite.cdRadio Okapi | |
| Children orphaned in eastern DRC Estimated by UNICEF; actual figure could be higher. | 2,000 | Press reports | Sources: Radio Okapi |
Who says what
| Who | Says | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Health Organization | Warned that Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are likely to rise as the outbreak continues. | Sources: ReutersReliefWeb (UN OCHA) | |
| Kenyan Ministry of Health | Stated the country is not experiencing an Ebola outbreak, reporting zero new cases after 293 tests following a single imported death. | Sources: ReutersAfricanews | |
| Médecins Sans Frontières and Epicentre | Announced the vaccination of 857 frontline workers in Ituri and North Kivu as part of a clinical evaluation of the ERVEBO vaccine. | Sources: Actualite.cd | |
| United Nations | Warned of an entanglement of overlapping crises in DRC, involving Ebola, armed conflict, displacement, and resource competition. | Sources: Actualite.cd |
Summary
As of 11 October 2026, the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus continues to expand in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with preventive measures intensified in Lubero and Kiwanja. The World Health Organization has warned that case numbers are likely to rise further, and an American doctor in the country has tested positive for the virus.
In neighboring Kenya, health officials detected no additional Ebola cases after conducting 293 tests following the death of a Kenyan citizen who traveled from DRC via Uganda to Nairobi. Authorities in Kenya confirmed contact tracing efforts remain active, though no local transmission has been identified.
Response efforts across North Kivu and Ituri provinces include the vaccination of 857 frontline workers under MSF and Epicentre's BRAVO study evaluating the ERVEBO vaccine. Additional support includes handwashing supply distributions to more than 300 schools by UNICEF and a 7 million euro aid allocation from France.
Timeline
- A Kenyan citizen traveling from DRC through Uganda dies of Ebola in Nairobi, marking Kenya's first confirmed imported case.Sources: AfricanewsRFI
- WHO warns that Ebola cases in DRC are likely to increase, while France pledges an additional 7 million euros to support containment efforts.Sources: ReutersActualite.cd
- Thirteen recovered Ebola patients, including a doctor and two nurses, are discharged from the Beni treatment center in North Kivu.Sources: Actualite.cd
- MSF reports 857 frontline workers vaccinated in Ituri and North Kivu under the BRAVO study evaluating the ERVEBO vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain.Sources: Actualite.cdRadio Okapi
- Kenyan health officials report no new Ebola cases after 293 tests; Kiwanja schools heighten barrier measures following outbreak expansion to Lubero.Sources: ReutersActualite.cd
Still unknown
- Whether the ERVEBO vaccine will demonstrate sufficient efficacy against the Bundibugyo strain during the ongoing BRAVO study.
- The complete contact network associated with the patient who traveled across three nations prior to diagnosis in Nairobi.
- The impact of local security concerns and sporadic resistance against response teams on containment operations in Ituri and North Kivu.