After an Ebola centre was attacked, peacekeepers moved in next door

In the wake of a deadly resurgence of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a small town in Uganda, where the virus was first identified two decades ago, has successfully contained a new wave of infections. The outbreak, which began in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in early May 2026, has grown rapidly, infecting over 3,200 individuals and raising concerns among public health officials. Despite these challenges, the town of Bundibugyo, once the site of a major Ebola outbreak in 2007, has managed to prevent further spread within its borders. The current outbreak, declared on 15 May, marks the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic attributed to the Bundibugyo virus. This particular strain is known for causing severe internal and external bleeding, with a mortality rate estimated at approximately 40 percent. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this is the largest recorded outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus, affecting 48 health zones across five provinces in eastern DRC: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, and Haut-Uele. The situation in Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, is particularly dire. With 1.9 million people facing crisis-level food insecurity or worse, the region's vulnerability exacerbates the challenges of controlling the disease. Across the 48 affected health zones, more than 2.65 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity, with over 628,000 in emergency conditions. These figures highlight the complex interplay between malnutrition and the spread of infectious diseases, especially in regions already struggling with poverty and instability. The United Nations has mobilized multiple agencies to address both the medical and logistical aspects of the crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the WHO and UNICEF, has launched extensive efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation. Since the outbreak began, the WFP's UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has conducted 495 flights, transporting 3,395 humanitarian responders and delivering 56 metric tonnes of essential cargo to remote areas. These efforts include delivering hot meals to patients, contacts, and frontline workers in 17 treatment centers, providing dry food rations to 23,000 people in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, and reaching another 36,000 individuals in affected zones with general food assistance. Despite these interventions, several obstacles remain. Speed and resource allocation are critical factors in the effectiveness of the response. Delays in aid distribution can allow the virus to spread further, while logistical difficulties and community resistance hinder containment efforts. Insecurity, access constraints, and limited operational capacity in newly affected areas complicate surveillance and the delivery of supplies. Carl Skau, acting Executive Director of the WFP, emphasized the importance of food assistance in curbing the spread of Ebola, stating that it helps keep families at home, supports safe isolation practices, and maintains the morale of health workers. The WFP has requested $293.6 million to sustain operations in DRC for the next six months, focusing on emergency logistics and food assistance in Ituri and other affected areas. This funding would enable continued efforts to combat the outbreak and mitigate its impact on vulnerable populations. As the situation evolves, the international community continues to monitor developments closely, aware that each day presents new challenges and opportunities in the fight against this persistent threat.