Comprehensive breakdown: 10 African nations vulnerable to Ebola outbreak

On May 21, 2026, medical staff donned in personal protective equipment (PPE) were seen transporting a patient at the hospital in Rwampara, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat the outbreak.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the 17th to affect the country, has already resulted in 139 suspected deaths out of nearly 600 probable cases.

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The epidemic's epicentre is located in the DRC's northeastern Ituri province, where many cases have been recorded, particularly in hard-to-access areas that are also plagued by numerous armed groups.

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The African Union's health agency issued a warning on Saturday, stating that ten African countries are at risk of being affected by the Ebola virus, in addition to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

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According to Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the ten countries at risk include Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia.