Since the publication of the previous Disease Outbreak News on 8 October 2026, the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak has expanded geographically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in the African Region, with Kenya and Nigeria reporting imported cases.
Sustained, high-level transmission continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 20 October 2026, a total of 9704 confirmed cases, including 4687 deaths (crude case fatality ratio: 48.3%), have been reported across 66 health zones in eight provinces.
On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Health of Kenya reported the first laboratory-confirmed imported case of BVD in Kenya in an individual who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kenya via Uganda.
Nigeria also confirmed an imported case in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja in a patient who had travelled from Uganda to the country.
Further investigations are ongoing to better understand. Meanwhile, WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, affected countries.
Yemeni hospitals faces hardship
Hospitals in Yemen’s Taiz governorate are struggling to maintain lifesaving services amid critical shortages of fuel, oxygen, medicines and medical supplies.
In Taiz city alone, 42 health facilities are reporting acute shortages. With hospital services severely disrupted and stocks running dangerously low, urgent action is needed to sustain lifesaving care for thousands of patients.
Hospitals and ambulances require more than 156 000 litres of fuel each month to maintain operations. Fuel shortages also threaten oxygen production, emergency transport and vaccine cold-chain systems.
The Ministry of Public Health and Population reports that the situation is critical. However, the crisis is unfolding in tandem with growing displacement. WHO is working with humanitarian partners to enable the delivery of medical supplies to hospital services.
WHO calls for the immediate facilitation of safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access to essential health services, including emergency surgery, intensive care, dialysis and maternal and neonatal care.
