Commonground
Senior Moderator
Africa – Updated Data on BVD Outbreak; No New Cases in Nigeria or Kenya:
According to data from the National Institute of Public Health Institute (INSP) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) as of November 4, 2026, there have been a total of 10,699 confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) cases and
5,202 confirmed deaths reported across 8 provinces. Since the previous update, 375 additional confirmed cases and 238
confirmed deaths were reported in the DRC – case detection and contact tracing remain a challenge. According the Ministry
of Health-Kenya (MOH-Kenya) as of November 3, 2026, there have been a total of 9 confirmed cases of BVD reported in
Kenya and 2 confirmed deaths. Since the previous update, there have been no additional cases reported. According to
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) as of November 4, 2026, there is 1 confirmed case in Nigeria,
with no additional cases reported since the previous update. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently assesses the
risk associated with this outbreak to be very high in the DRC, high in countries sharing land border with the DRC, and low
in other countries within the African region and at the global level. This is currently the second largest Ebola outbreak on
record globally and remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) globally and a Public Health
Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) in Africa.
In the DRC, according to data from the INSP as of November 4, 2026, confirmed cases have been reported in 67 health
zones across Bas-Uélé (4), Haut-Uélé (7), Ituri (28), North Kivu (17), North Ubangi (2), South Kivu (1), South Ubangi (1), and
Tshopo (7) provinces – 70.2% of confirmed cases have been reported in Ituri province (7,485), followed by North Kivu
(2,593), Haut-Uélé (470), Tshopo (94), Bas-Uélé (13), North Ubangi (8), South Kivu (3), and South Ubangi (2) provinces. A
total of 39,667 case contacts have been identified for monitoring and follow-up, of which 33,281 (83.9%) are actively being
monitored (seen within the previous 24 hours). There have been 2,881 recoveries. According to the MOH-Kenya as of
November 3, 2026, there are currently 52 case contacts identified for monitoring, of which 52 (100%) are actively
monitored. There have been 5 recoveries. According to the NCDC as of November 4, 2026, there are currently 56 case
contacts identified for monitoring, of which 56 (100%) are actively monitored.
The DRC has previously experienced 16 Ebola outbreaks since 1976 – the last EVD outbreak occurred in the Bulape health
zone of Kasai Province and lasted from September 4 – December 1, 2025, resulting in a total of 64 cases (53 confirmed)
and 45 deaths (34 confirmed) (CFR: 70.3%). The only other BVD outbreak in the DRC occurred in the Isiro health zone of
Orientale Province and lasted from August 17 – November 26, 2012, resulting in a total of 62 cases (36 confirmed) and 34
deaths (CFR: 54.8%). Unlike EVD, there is no vaccine against BVD, and treatment consists of supportive care; however,
clinical trials of BVD therapeutics are ongoing.
On October 11, 2026, Health and Human Services (HHS) renewed the July 13, 2026, updated Title 42 order effectively
suspending entry into the United States for all foreign nationals and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who
were in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival – the order will be in effect for 30 days. Under updated
Title 42, travelers (including Americans) who have traveled to DRC will not be able to board commercial flights with
destinations to the U.S. for 21 days after leaving the DRC. This is in addition to the 21-day international travel restriction,
initiated June 24, 2026, by the DRC Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, for anyone who has stayed in
an affected area or had contact with a confirmed or probable case. All United States citizens, nationals, and certain
government and military personnel who were in Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival will be redirected through
either Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Virginia, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in
Georgia, or John F. Kennedy Intercontinental Airport (JFK) in New York, for enhanced public health screening. Beginning
November 3, 2026, amended Title 42, published October 28, 2026, requires all international travelers boarding flights to
the U.S., including passengers, air crew and conveyance operators, to sign an attestation before boarding confirming that
they have not been present in the DRC during the previous 21 days. This restriction also applies to transit through the DRC,
even if the traveler did not disembark. Falsifying the attestation could lead to fines or imprisonment. The CDC currently
assesses the overall risk to the American public and travelers to be very low and has active Travel Health Notices posted
regarding BVD in Kenya (Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions), non-BVD affected areas of DRC and Uganda (Level 2 – Practice
Enhanced Precautions), Haut-Uele and Tshopo Provinces, DRC (Level 3 – Reconsider Nonessential Travel), and Ituri and
North Kivu Provinces, DRC (Level 4 – Avoid All Travel). The New York State Department of Health is closely monitoring the
situation – there is no immediate risk to New Yorkers.
Data Sources: INSP (11/5/26), MOH-Kenya (11/4/26), NCDC (11/4/26)
According to data from the National Institute of Public Health Institute (INSP) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) as of November 4, 2026, there have been a total of 10,699 confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) cases and
5,202 confirmed deaths reported across 8 provinces. Since the previous update, 375 additional confirmed cases and 238
confirmed deaths were reported in the DRC – case detection and contact tracing remain a challenge. According the Ministry
of Health-Kenya (MOH-Kenya) as of November 3, 2026, there have been a total of 9 confirmed cases of BVD reported in
Kenya and 2 confirmed deaths. Since the previous update, there have been no additional cases reported. According to
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) as of November 4, 2026, there is 1 confirmed case in Nigeria,
with no additional cases reported since the previous update. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently assesses the
risk associated with this outbreak to be very high in the DRC, high in countries sharing land border with the DRC, and low
in other countries within the African region and at the global level. This is currently the second largest Ebola outbreak on
record globally and remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) globally and a Public Health
Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) in Africa.
In the DRC, according to data from the INSP as of November 4, 2026, confirmed cases have been reported in 67 health
zones across Bas-Uélé (4), Haut-Uélé (7), Ituri (28), North Kivu (17), North Ubangi (2), South Kivu (1), South Ubangi (1), and
Tshopo (7) provinces – 70.2% of confirmed cases have been reported in Ituri province (7,485), followed by North Kivu
(2,593), Haut-Uélé (470), Tshopo (94), Bas-Uélé (13), North Ubangi (8), South Kivu (3), and South Ubangi (2) provinces. A
total of 39,667 case contacts have been identified for monitoring and follow-up, of which 33,281 (83.9%) are actively being
monitored (seen within the previous 24 hours). There have been 2,881 recoveries. According to the MOH-Kenya as of
November 3, 2026, there are currently 52 case contacts identified for monitoring, of which 52 (100%) are actively
monitored. There have been 5 recoveries. According to the NCDC as of November 4, 2026, there are currently 56 case
contacts identified for monitoring, of which 56 (100%) are actively monitored.
The DRC has previously experienced 16 Ebola outbreaks since 1976 – the last EVD outbreak occurred in the Bulape health
zone of Kasai Province and lasted from September 4 – December 1, 2025, resulting in a total of 64 cases (53 confirmed)
and 45 deaths (34 confirmed) (CFR: 70.3%). The only other BVD outbreak in the DRC occurred in the Isiro health zone of
Orientale Province and lasted from August 17 – November 26, 2012, resulting in a total of 62 cases (36 confirmed) and 34
deaths (CFR: 54.8%). Unlike EVD, there is no vaccine against BVD, and treatment consists of supportive care; however,
clinical trials of BVD therapeutics are ongoing.
On October 11, 2026, Health and Human Services (HHS) renewed the July 13, 2026, updated Title 42 order effectively
suspending entry into the United States for all foreign nationals and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who
were in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival – the order will be in effect for 30 days. Under updated
Title 42, travelers (including Americans) who have traveled to DRC will not be able to board commercial flights with
destinations to the U.S. for 21 days after leaving the DRC. This is in addition to the 21-day international travel restriction,
initiated June 24, 2026, by the DRC Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, for anyone who has stayed in
an affected area or had contact with a confirmed or probable case. All United States citizens, nationals, and certain
government and military personnel who were in Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival will be redirected through
either Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Virginia, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in
Georgia, or John F. Kennedy Intercontinental Airport (JFK) in New York, for enhanced public health screening. Beginning
November 3, 2026, amended Title 42, published October 28, 2026, requires all international travelers boarding flights to
the U.S., including passengers, air crew and conveyance operators, to sign an attestation before boarding confirming that
they have not been present in the DRC during the previous 21 days. This restriction also applies to transit through the DRC,
even if the traveler did not disembark. Falsifying the attestation could lead to fines or imprisonment. The CDC currently
assesses the overall risk to the American public and travelers to be very low and has active Travel Health Notices posted
regarding BVD in Kenya (Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions), non-BVD affected areas of DRC and Uganda (Level 2 – Practice
Enhanced Precautions), Haut-Uele and Tshopo Provinces, DRC (Level 3 – Reconsider Nonessential Travel), and Ituri and
North Kivu Provinces, DRC (Level 4 – Avoid All Travel). The New York State Department of Health is closely monitoring the
situation – there is no immediate risk to New Yorkers.
Data Sources: INSP (11/5/26), MOH-Kenya (11/4/26), NCDC (11/4/26)