Ebola headlines tend to produce more fear than understanding. This outbreak is serious and still growing. The risk to people in the United States is still low. Both things are true.
What's happening
The outbreak is centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is caused by Bundibugyo virus, one of the less common species in the Ebola family. The World Health Organization declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16, 2026.
As of October 5, the CDC reports 8,463 confirmed cases and 4,082 deaths. That is roughly a 48% case fatality rate. It makes this the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, behind only the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic.
- Where: The outbreak has spread to multiple provinces in the DRC. Ituri province accounts for most cases, more than 6,000.
- Still growing: European health officials reported 66 new cases and 38 deaths in a single day, October 2–3.
- Uganda: A linked outbreak in Uganda (20 cases, 2 deaths) was declared over on August 25.
- Outside Africa: A small number of patients, mostly healthcare workers, have been evacuated to Europe for treatment, most recently to the Netherlands on October 1.
Why this outbreak is hard to stop
The vaccine that helped control recent outbreaks, Ervebo, was developed against a different species, Zaire ebolavirus. It has not been shown to protect against Bundibugyo, and there is no approved treatment specific to this virus. Responders are relying on the classic tools: finding cases quickly, isolating patients, tracing contacts, and safe burials. In a region also affected by conflict and displacement, all of those are difficult.
What the risk is in Portland and Seattle
The CDC currently assesses the risk to the U.S. public as low, and there are no U.S. cases. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who is sick, or with contaminated materials. It does not spread through the air like flu or COVID-19, and people are not contagious before symptoms appear.
Seattle and Portland are international travel hubs, so travel rules matter here. Travelers who have been in affected areas of the DRC in the previous 21 days cannot board commercial flights to the United States, under current U.S. entry restrictions.
What you should actually do
- Check before you travel. If you are going to Central or East Africa, read the CDC's travel health notices first.
- Know the symptoms if you've traveled. Fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea or unexplained bleeding within 21 days of being in an affected area. Call ahead to a doctor or emergency room before going in, so they can prepare.
- Get your information from health agencies. The CDC and WHO publish regular updates. Social media posts about Ebola are often wrong.
- Keep a basic household health kit. Not because of Ebola, but because every outbreak is a reminder: thermometer, fever reducers, gloves, disinfectant, and a two-week supply of your regular medications.