Suspected Cases Surpass 1,000 — Total 1,077 Suspected, 246 Probable Deaths as Outbreak Enters Critical Phase

As of 31 May 2026, suspected Ebola cases from the ongoing Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) outbreak in DRC and Uganda surpassed 1,000 for the first time, with CGTN and WHO tracking data indicating 1,077 total suspected cases — a significant acceleration from 906 suspected cases in WHO Situation Report #2 on 26 May. DRC accounted for 1,028 suspected cases, while Uganda had 9 lab-confirmed cases (1 confirmed death). Probable deaths reached 246 across the outbreak, including approximately 220 suspected DRC deaths and 26 confirmed deaths. The 1,000-case threshold was reached just 14 days after the WHO PHEIC declaration on 17 May 2026 — a pace exceeding the 2018–2020 Kivu outbreak's early trajectory. Three key transmission drivers continued on 31 May: (1) The Mongbwalu escaped-patient cluster remained partially at large, with DRC MoH estimating 18–22 of the original 25+ escaped patients had now been relocated to isolation or were confirmed dead in the community — generating uncounted community transmission events; (2) Contact tracing coverage in Ituri remained below 50%, far short of the 80% needed for containment; (3) The WHO expert panel ring vaccination ruling (28 May) had suspended Ervebo use, creating a 6–12 week vaccine gap before any BDBV-specific clinical trial vaccine becomes available. WHO's emergency R&D team was reported working urgently on an accelerated trial protocol for ChAdOx1 BDBV at Bunia and Kampala sites. Epidemic modelers tracking the outbreak projected that without re-establishment of ETU coverage in Mongbwalu and contact tracing above 70%, total cases could exceed 3,000 by mid-June 2026.