17 May 2026 Articles

Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda

ITM is working closely with Congolese partners

Last updated: 17 May 2026

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, an Ebola virus for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. The risk to the population in Belgium remains low.

Ebola is a deadly viral disease that can cause fever, severe fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, bleeding. The virus does not spread through the air, but through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or with contaminated materials.

An international public health emergency means that the WHO is calling on countries to be extra vigilant and to strengthen international cooperation. It does not mean that there is a pandemic.

Travellers can find information about risk areas, symptoms and prevention on Wanda, ITM’s travel medicine website.

Bundibugyo virus

This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of the viruses that can cause Ebola. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for this Ebola variant.

ITM and INRB pool expertise

ITM is closely monitoring the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, in close collaboration with its long-standing partner, the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa. Through ITM-DRC office, developments are monitored and activities coordinated with Congolese and international partners. At the request of and in consultation with INRB, ITM's expertise is being deployed in three areas: genetic analysis of the virus (sequencing), laboratory diagnostics and clinical research into potential treatments.

Tony Wawina from the Unit of Clinical Virology is on site in Kinshasa and, together with colleagues from the INRB, played a key role in sequencing the Bundibugyo virus. Koen Vercauteren from the Unit Clinical Virology is also travelling to Kinshasa to work with Placide Mbala of INRB to strengthen diagnostic capabilities with test kits.

Diagnostics is currently a major bottleneck. The rapid, fully automated PCR tests using GeneXpert do not detect this variant, meaning laboratories have to rely on other, more labour-intensive PCR tests. Kevin Ariën from ITM’s Unit of Virology and Daniel Mukadi from INRB are looking into how ITM can provide additional support in this regard.

Clinical research is also being prepared. Isabel Brosius from the Unit of Tropical Medicine and Laurens Liesenborghs from the Unit of Clinical Emerging Infectious Diseases are collaborating on the preparation of a WHO-led clinical trial into potential treatments.