OUTBREAK: Ebola
Ebola Bundibugyo disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2026)
Disease
We bring together grant information on Ebola.
Research Categories
Charts showing Ebola grants assigned to twelve research categories with respective subcategories.
Clinical Research
Explore how clinical research funding is allocated across various trial phases and diseases to support clinical trial activities.
Geographical Distribution
Charts showing the location of funding organisations and where funding flows to support Ebola research activities.
Annual Trends
Charts for trends in research funding in Ebola and associated research categories.
Policy Roadmaps
Alignment of Ebola research grant data to outbreak specific research priorities.
Background
Ebola Disease (EBOD) is potentially lethal zoonotic disease caused by several viruses in the Filoviridae viral family, three of which are known to cause significant outbreaks in humans. The Ebola virus (also known as the Zaire virus) causes Ebola virus disease (EVD), the Sudan virus causes Sudan virus disease (SVD) and the Bundibuygo virus causes Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). The Ebola virus and Sudan virus were first discovered in 1976 after two almost simultaneous outbreaks occurred in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), resulting in over 500 cases. The Bundibugyo species was first identified in 2007 in Bundibugyo district in Uganda, during which 131 cases were reported with 42 deaths.
There have been over 20 outbreaks of Ebola disease in Africa, with the DRC experiencing the most EVD outbreaks, South Sudan and Uganda experiencing the most SVD outbreaks, and the DRC and the Republic of Congo having each experienced one outbreak of BVD. The case fatality rate (CFR) is highest for EVD and is typically over 60%, compared to around 50% for SVD and 30% for BVD, with healthcare workers especially at risk. Symptoms in severe cases include multiorgan failure, haemorrhage, and shock.
Fruit bats are believed to be a natural host and potential reservoir for the viruses which cause Ebola disease. Transmission to humans occurs through close contact with the blood and bodily fluids of infected animals. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with the blood and bodily fluids of an infected, symptomatic human or objects they may have contaminated. There is also evidence that sexual transmission can occur after recovery. There are licensed vaccines (rVSV-ZEBOV and Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo) and monoclonal antibody (Ebanga [Ansuvimab-ZYKL]) and tri-antibody cocktail (Inmazeb [atoltivinab, odesivimab, maftivimab]) therapeutics against Ebola Zaire, but these are not licensed for non-Zaire Ebola viruses.
Previous to this outbreak, the most recent outbreak of Ebola disease occurred between September and December 2025 in the Kasai Province of the DRC, caused by the Ebola Zaire virus. A total of 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable) and 45 deaths (CFR: 70.3%) were reported throughout the 3 month outbreak. The Ministry of Health of the DRC declared the end of the outbreak on 1 December 2025, after the end of a 42 day countdown since the last case tested negative. At its peak, WHO had assessed the overall public health risk as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level.
Outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
On the 15th May 2026, Africa CDC released a statement reporting an active outbreak of Ebola disease in the Ituri Province of the DRC, with a further statement by the WHO Regional Office for Africa following on the same daySubsequent testing has confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo. As of 18th May, 528 suspected cases and 132 deaths have been reported, indicating a case fatality ratio of around 23. Two cases have been reported in Uganda after travel from the DRC.. 668 contacts have been identified for follow-up in the DRC and Uganda.
The event was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the Director-General of the World Health Organization on 16th May.
Africa CDC have convened an urgent coordination meeting bringing together health authorities from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan and partners including UN and public health agencies, research funders and pharmaceutical companies, amongst others. The focus of the meeting was stated as “immediate response priorities, cross-border coordination, surveillance, laboratory support, infection prevention and control, risk communication, safe and dignified burials, and resource mobilisation”.
The Filovirus Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) will hold an Emergency Scientific Consultation on Bundibugyo Medical Countermeasures Research & Development on Friday 22 May 2026 from 13.00 to 16.00 CEST
More information about the Ebola outbreak is provided here.
Key public health and research updates
May 2026:May 2026:
- Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo & Uganda
- Democratic Republic of the Congo confirms new Ebola outbreak, WHO scales up support | WHO | Regional Office for Africa
- Africa CDC Calls Urgent Regional Coordination Meeting Following Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Ituri Province, DRC
March 2026:
- WHO R&D Blueprint publsihed Filovirus Research and Development Roadmap
September 2025:
- WHO published a Regional Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for EVD in the DRC which outlined response priorities.
- Filoviridae CORC meeting held on 5 September to update stakeholders on the ongoing outbreak – resulting research priorities are available here and a recording of the meeting is available here.
- On 4 September, the DRC declared an EVD outbreak in the Kasai province.
March 2025:
- Filoviridae CORC meeting held on the update of the WHO-AFIRM Roadmap.
October 2024:
- WHO published a CORE protocol for testing therapeutic candidates against Filoviruses
July 2024:
- WHO published ‘Pathogens prioritization: a scientific framework for epidemic and pandemic preparedness’listing Filoviridae viruses as a high PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) risk.
March 2024:
- WHO published a CORE protocol for testing vaccine candidates against Filoviruses
August 2022:
- DRC declared an EVD outbreak in the North Kivu province.
June 2022:
- WHO published a Strategic Agenda for Filovirus Research and Monitoring (2021-2031) (WHO-AFIRM).
January 2019:
- The WHO R&D Blueprint team published a Research and Development Roadmap on Ebola and Marburg.
December 2008:
- DRC declared an EVD outbreak in the Kasai province.
Outbreak-specific research priorities
The Filovirus Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) will hold an Emergency Scientific Consultation on Bundibugyo Medical Countermeasures Research & Development on Friday 22 May 2026.
In March 2026 a new Roadmap for Filovirus research and development was published updating the previous WHO R&D Blueprint research priorities for Ebola/Marburg published in 2019. The WHO-Strategic Agenda for Filovirus Research and Monitoring (WHO-AFIRM) (2021-2031) was published in 2021, which outlines strategic goals and milestones for Filovirus research under three pillars: Anticipation (to prevent and control outbreaks), Reinforcement (to develop and evaluate vaccines), and Cure (to develop post-exposure therapies).
Relevant Links
- Filovirus Research and Development Roadmap
- CORC filovirus page hosted by ANRS MIE
- Regional Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- A WHO-Strategic Research Agenda for Filovirus. Research and Monitoring (WHO AFIRM). WHO-AFIRM Strategy Roadmap 2021-2031.
- Ebola/Marburg Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap. January 2019 – Advanced draft.
Pandemic PACT data
See below our data visualisations for Ebola research grant funding.
Global annual funding for research on diseases with a pandemic potential
Total number of grants and US dollars committed for each disease
No data available due to applied filters.
Please note: Grants may fall under more than one disease. Funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder and are included within the year of the grant award start date.
Global Distribution of Grants by Research Area
The chart shows the total amount of funding allocated for different research areas for all diseases. Use filters on the left for advanced filtering depending on your interests. Use the 'View sub-categories' buttons to explore the sub-categories.
Number of Grants
Known Financial Commitments (USD)
4650
$2.71B
446
$285.02M
2235
$1.34B
3420
$2.54B
1350
$1.02B
No data available due to applied filters.
Please note: Grants may fall under more than one research category, and funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder.
Distribution of Clinical Research Grants by Clinical Trial Phase
The chart shows the number of grants awarded and the total funding allocated for clinical research across all diseases, categorized by trial intervention focus. Hover over each stacked bar to see a detailed breakdown by focus. Use the ‘View Categories’ button to explore clinical trial phases in more detail by intervention focus.
Number of grants
0
0
0
0
0
0
Known Financial Commitments (USD)
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Note that some clinical research may fall under multiple categories; although, these overlaps are not explicitly shown. For example, phases are displayed with “clinical characterisation” awards where they co-occurred with other interventions. For diagnostic trials, preclinical studies are not included in the data presented. The diagnostics visualisation will soon be updated with a revised classification of diagnostic research awards to better reflect the scope of funded awards.
Global Map of Geographical Distribution of Funding Organisations OR Research Locations
The information on the research location was collected where available from the grant application, and can be different to the location of research institution. Click on a country to see country-specific grant information (including joint-funded grants).
Number of Joint Grants
No data available due to applied filters.
Please note: Funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder. Some research projects are undertaken in multiple locations (countries). Some are funded by multiple funders, the breakdown of joint-funded projects can be found when selecting a country and 'show joint-funded countries'. Where research location is not explicitly specified the default used is the location of the research institution receiving the funds.
Regional Distribution of Funding by Research Areas
Each research category is shown in a different colour
No data available due to applied filters.
Please note: Grants may fall under more than one research category, and funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder.
Regional Flow of Research Grants
The chart illustrates the flow of research grants by region, tracing it from funder to research institution and ultimately to the location where the research is conducted.
If the full chart is not visible, please scroll horizontally to view.
Total Number of Grants
US Dollars Committed
No data available due to applied filters.
Please note: Funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder. Some research projects are undertaken in multiple locations (countries). Where research location is not explicitly specified the default used is the location of the research institution receiving the funds.
Annual Trends in New Global Grants for Research Areas
The chart shows the total amount of funding allocated to different research areas by calendar year of award start date.
No data available due to applied filters.
Please note: Grants may fall under more than one research category. Funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder and are included within the year of the grant award start date.