Ebola virus reappearance : Burundi placed on high alert

Bujumbura, May 19, 2026 – The Burundian government has placed the country on high alert following the reappearance of the Ebola virus in the Great Lakes region. Health authorities fear a possible spread of the disease to Burundi due to frequent travel to and from affected areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

In a statement released on May 16, the Ministry of Public Health announced that a new Ebola outbreak had been officially reported on May 15, 2026, by Congolese and Ugandan health authorities.

The Burundian Minister of Health, Dr. Fidèle Nkezabahizi, warned of the proximity of the outbreak clusters, located less than 400 kilometers from the Burundian territory. According to him, the regular movement of people between Burundi, eastern DRC, and Uganda significantly increases the risk of importing the virus.

“The flow of people between our countries, particularly via the Bujumbura-Goma route by air and land, represents a high risk of spread,” the minister stated, noting that Burundi is among the most exposed countries given previous health alerts in the sub-region.

Faced with this threat, Burundian health authorities, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), have strengthened several prevention measures. Among the measures already implemented are reinforced controls at points of entry into the country, the installation of temporary testing facilities, and the training and deployment of rapid response teams.

The ministry also indicated that it has strengthened the capacity of health facilities to manage potential suspected cases. Personal protective equipment and prevention kits have been distributed in priority areas, particularly border provinces.

Enhanced epidemiological surveillance is also underway in several locations across the country to rapidly detect any suspected cases. Authorities are stressing the need for close cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly the DRC, where several confirmed cases have already been reported in health zones in Ituri province, in the northeast of the country.

The Ministry of Health is urging the population to strictly observe hygiene measures and to immediately report anyone exhibiting symptoms consistent with Ebola, including high fever, headache, severe fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.

This new health alert comes as eastern DRC is already facing a particularly fragile humanitarian and security situation.

Read also: