The Numbers Got Worse. Fast.

As of May 25, 2026, the DRC Ministry of Health reports 906 suspected cases, 105 confirmed cases, 223 suspected deaths, and 10 confirmed deaths, according to the CDC's current situation page.

That's up from 904 suspected cases and 119 suspected deaths reported just days earlier by the DRC's Ministry of Communication, as noted by The Guardian.

The WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on social media Sunday that 101 confirmed cases had been identified alongside the 900+ suspected figure, with 220 deaths now linked to the outbreak, according to CNN.

The figures are rising rapidly.

The Outbreak Is No Longer Contained to Two Provinces

The CDC confirmed a new confirmed case in Sud-Kivu Province — a third DRC province now affected. Previously, confirmed cases were limited to Ituri and Nord-Kivu.

The outbreak has also jumped borders. Uganda now has 7 confirmed cases and 1 confirmed death, with 5 of those cases carrying clear links to the first 2 confirmed Ugandan cases, per the CDC.

CNN reported that the virus has spread from rural areas to cities including Bunia — the capital of Ituri Province — and Goma, a major urban center. Geographic containment is failing.

An American Is in Germany Right Now

On May 17, an American who was exposed while caring for patients in DRC tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo disease, according to the CDC. That person has been transported to Germany for treatment — not the United States.

The CDC says the choice of Germany over the U.S. reflects a shorter flight and Germany's prior experience treating Ebola patients. High-risk contacts associated with that exposure have been moved to Germany and the Czech Republic.

The CDC noted that no Ebola cases have been confirmed in the United States as a result of this outbreak, with the risk to the American public remaining low.

The US Government Moved Quickly

On May 18, CDC and DHS announced enhanced travel screening, entry restrictions, and public health measures to block Ebola from entering the United States.

Affected air passengers arriving from DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda are being rerouted to land at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport — both of which have dedicated CDC quarantine stations. Airlines must rebook affected travelers directly.

The administration also issued a formal order suspending the right to introduce certain persons from countries where a quarantinable communicable disease exists.

The WHO raised its risk assessment for DRC to "very high" on Friday, while maintaining that the global spread risk remains low, per The Guardian.

Healthcare Workers Are Getting Attacked

AP News and The Guardian both reported on ongoing attacks against Ebola treatment centers and healthcare workers. Four clinic attacks have now occurred, including arson. In Rwampara, a group of young men burned an Ebola treatment center trying to retrieve a friend's body — and accused the foreign aid group operating the facility of lying about Ebola.

Police have fired shots during at least one of these incidents. Armed soldiers and police are now guarding some burials carried out by aid workers.

Authorities in northeastern Congo have banned funeral wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people in response.

Colin Thomas-Jensen, director of impact at the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, told The Guardian the attacks reflect "built-in skepticism and anger" from communities that have endured years of armed rebel violence, government failure, and international aid cuts — issues that are not being resolved.

CNN captured reactions on the ground. Cocoa seller Hélène Akilimali told a journalist working on CNN's behalf: "Ebola is a real disease. People need to stop deluding themselves." She wears a mask. Her customers often don't. She has no power to force them.

Misinformation isn't just a social media problem — it's a life-or-death obstacle in the actual epicenter.

What's Being Missed

CNN and The Guardian are doing solid on-the-ground reporting, but both outlets consistently frame the community attacks as primarily a product of "mistrust" and "trauma" — which is real — without equally emphasizing that these attacks are directly killing the response effort. Burned treatment centers mean sick people have nowhere to go.

Meanwhile, the American worker evacuation to Germany received minimal coverage in major outlets. That's a concrete development that signals how seriously the CDC and federal government are taking cross-border risk.

The Trajectory

If you're not traveling to DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan, your direct risk is low. The CDC isn't overstating the domestic threat.

But the outbreak's trajectory — three DRC provinces, a neighboring country, 906 suspected cases, treatment centers on fire, and misinformation rampant — shows accelerating momentum without a major reversal.

The federal response on entry screening is sound. The American healthcare worker is receiving appropriate care in Germany. The outbreak itself continues to spread.