WHO Situation Report #2: 906 Suspected Cases, 223 Deaths; Uganda Revised to 7 Lab-Confirmed

WHO released its second formal Situation Report for the 2026 DRC-Uganda Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) outbreak on May 26, 2026, providing a comprehensive update on case counts and revising Uganda's lab-confirmed figure. As of May 26, the outbreak recorded 906 suspected cases with 223 deaths in DRC, and 105 lab-confirmed cases in DRC (10 confirmed deaths). Uganda confirmed 7 lab-confirmed cases (1 confirmed death) — a downward revision from the preliminary 12 cases reported on May 25, with 5 reclassified as 'probable' pending additional laboratory confirmation. Total lab-confirmed cases stood at 112. The Situation Report noted that 11 of 51 DRC health zones had reported cases, with Ituri Province (Mahagi, Djugu, Irumu, Mongbwalu health zones) accounting for the majority of the caseload. Mongbwalu alone recorded 322 suspected cases and 88 deaths — a local case fatality rate of approximately 27%, consistent with historical BDBV outbreak figures (25–47% CFR in 2007 and 2012 outbreaks). WHO assessed national DRC risk as 'Very High' and global risk as 'High' given the active PHEIC status. Contact tracing capacity remained severely limited across 23% of the affected area where security conditions prevented health team access. The Situation Report also noted that ring vaccination using off-label rVSV-ZEBOV was ongoing but hindered by supply chain disruptions from ETU attacks in Ituri.