Ebola outbreak 2026: What is MSF doing and how can I help?
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), MSF teams are mobilising to help contain the sudden surge in Ebola cases.
So far, there have been more than 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,500 deaths reported by August 1st in the country's Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces, with a small number of further cases confirmed across the border in Uganda. In just two months, the current Ebola disease outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has become the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the DRC, surpassing the 2018 epidemic, with a far higher death toll than in comparable periods of previous outbreaks; the devastating 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa caused 279 deaths over the same timeframe.
The World Health Organization has declared the situation to be a "public health emergency of international concern", while the US CDC has raised the Ebola response to the highest level (level 1), its most severe designation, which is reserved for critical emergencies and assigns the largest number of staff possible to work the response.
How is MSF responding to the Ebola outbreak?
MSF has mobilised over 1,400 medical, logistical and support staff with experience in responding to Ebola, as well as thousands of items in critical medical supplies to support their work. Several tonnes of medical and logistical supplies continue to arrive in the DRC each week from MSF’s international logistics hubs.
MSF currently runs seven ETCs (Emergency Treatment Centres) and more than 15 isolation units across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo provinces, with a combined capacity of more than 430 beds. Since the beginning of the outbreak and up to 14 July, MSF teams had admitted more than 968 patients, including 357 confirmed cases. MSF has also supported the recovery of 116 survivors following treatment and care. In addition, MSF supports the Ministry of Health with surveillance and detection activities, community engagement, training, and efforts to ensure safe access to other essential healthcare services.
MSF teams are often among the first humanitarian responders on the ground for one key reason: because we are already there.
How can I help?
When an epidemic hits, your support means we are already there.
Right now, our teams are responding in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, addressing the medical and humanitarian needs of the civilian population facing significant, overlapping crises and surging support to teams responding on the ground.
By giving to MSF today, you will be helping to ensure we can respond to emergencies around the world, like the current Ebola outbreak.
What is Ebola?
Ebola is a rare but deadly virus, which can kill up to 90 percent of those infected, though the strain of virus causing the current Ebola disease outbreak has a lower mortality rate of up to 40%.
It can be difficult to diagnose because the early symptoms, like a fever and sore throat, are common. To confirm an Ebola diagnosis, special laboratory tests need to be carried out.
Ebola is highly infectious and can be transmitted from both animals and humans. Human-to-human transmission happens through close contact with blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals. This is why people have to wear full personal protective equipment to prevent catching or spreading the virus.
There are currently four types of Ebola that can cause illness in people. There is an approved treatment and a preventive vaccine for the Zaire strain of Ebola. The current Ebola outbreak reported in the DRC is caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.
Medical teams can give patients the best chance of survival by helping to manage the symptoms of the virus, and treating other diseases the patient may have.
Once a patient recovers from Ebola, they’re immune to the strain of the virus they contracted.
Responding to Ebola in West Africa
Between late 2013 and 2016, an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa became a major international emergency. The severity of the epidemic saw MSF launch one of the largest emergency operations in its history.
MSF responded in the three most affected countries - Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia – and also to the spread of cases to Nigeria, Senegal and Mali. At the peak of the epidemic, MSF employed nearly 4,000 national staff and more than 325 international staff who ran Ebola management centres as well as conducted surveillance, contact tracing, health promotion and provided psychological support.
MSF admitted 10,310 patients to its Ebola management centres of which 5,201 were confirmed Ebola cases, representing one-third of all WHO-confirmed cases.
MSF and Ebola
Ebola is one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
The virus can kill up to 90 percent of the people who catch it, causing terror among infected communities. Ebola is so infectious that patients need to be treated in isolation by staff wearing protective clothing.
We are leading experts in treating and containing Ebola. In recent years, MSF teams have fought major outbreaks of Ebola in DRC and West Africa. MSF teams are often among the first humanitarian responders on the ground for one key reason: because we are already there. MSF has been working in the DRC since 1977, providing vital healthcare services through conflict, disaster and disease.
