Crisis Spotlight: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda

Crisis type(s): Epidemic (Ebola)

Background

Map DRC Uganda In May 2026, an Ebola outbreak (Bundibugyo species) was confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo species of Ebola, although work is ongoing to test potential treatments.

Prior to the outbreak, the DRC was already experiencing a severe and protracted humanitarian crisis. The ongoing conflict has significantly affected education – in 2025 alone, 775 schools shut due to conflict in North Kivu, leaving more than 375,000 children out of education. The Ebola outbreak is forcing additional school closures at a “critical moment when children are preparing for their end-of-year exams, threatening not only their health but also their future.”

“A rapid, well-funded, and coordinated response is essential to stop the spread of Ebola, maintain essential services, and ensure that children remain safe, protected, and able to continue learning throughout the outbreak.”

- Dr Babou Rukengeza, Save the Children’s Ebola Response Lead in the DRC

What is Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)?

EVD is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and non-human primates. Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. These may be followed by vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and internal or external bleeding.

The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates) and then spreads in the human population through direct contact with the bodily fluids (e.g. blood, vomit, feces) of infected people or people who have died from the disease, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Source: World Health Organization, 2026.

Key messages

Children are especially vulnerable during this EVD outbreak. They make up one in four confirmed deaths and face major indirect consequences such as disruptions of essential education, health, and nutrition services, loss of parents and caregivers, stigma, psychosocial distress, and increased protection risks.
Schools are effective platforms for sharing lifesaving information about EVD and connecting teachers, learners, and community members with health services. Teachers should be trained to identify symptoms of EVD, share age-appropriate, medically accurate information about EVD transmission and treatment with learners, and follow school protocols on quarantine and contact tracing. Teachers should also receive support and training on supporting their learners’ psychosocial wellbeing as well as their own.
Schools should have protocols in place to prevent the transmission of EVD, including:
- Methods for identifying EVD symptoms (ex: daily temperature screening)
- Protocols for children, youth, and adults who show symptoms upon arrival to school or who present with symptoms during school hours
- Coordination with healthcare workers for contact tracing and referrals to specialized health services
- Non-discrimination and support for teachers and learners who are returning to school post-quarantine
Providing alternative learning solutions can ensure children and youth can continue to learn during quarantine and/or school closures. Some examples include distributing home-based learning materials, implementing radio-based distance learning programs, and holding online classes.
Community engagement is key to successfully controlling an EVD outbreak. Communities should be well informed, both about the disease itself and how to control the outbreak. Community engagement should happen in local languages, led by trusted community leaders, tackling misinformation, and supporting families to stay informed and protected.

Resources

The following resources support the provision of education, and the psychosocial support and wellbeing of learners, teachers, and those who have been affected by the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda. This list will be updated, as needed, on the INEE website.

Resources developed for the 2026 EVD outbreak are marked with a green dot🟢. Resources developed for or adapted from the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak are marked with a yellow dot🟡. Some resources developed for other outbreaks, such as COVID-19 or monkeypox (Mpox) have also been included, as they contain useful information that may be contextualized to this specific disease outbreak.

For up-to-date information on the situation in DRC and Uganda and information on the humanitarian response in affected areas, visit ReliefWeb. To suggest resources for this crisis, or to request a customized collection of resources relevant to another crisis, contact [email protected]. For EiE technical support, submit an INEE Help Desk request here.