•    More than 900,000 internally displaced people live in the affected Ituri Province
•    Thousands of children face heightened risk of infection
•    No vaccine currently exists for the newly identified Ebola variant

Dublin, 18 May 2026 – World Vision Ireland has expressed deep concern following the declaration of a new Ebola outbreak in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), warning that children are among the most at risk in an already fragile humanitarian context. 

The Government of the DRC has confirmed cases of the outbreak across the health zones of Bunia, Mongwalu, and Rwampara. Initial figures indicate 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths, including several confirmed infections. Alarmingly, the newly identified Ebola variant does not match any previously known strain, and there is currently no vaccine available.

The outbreak is unfolding amid ongoing conflict, mass displacement, and severely limited access to healthcare. Ituri Province alone is home to more than 900,000 internally displaced people, many living in overcrowded conditions where disease can spread rapidly.

World Vision Ireland works directly with vulnerable communities in the DRC through its EMPOWER programme, supported by Irish Aid, and is closely monitoring the situation alongside partners on the ground.

“Our main concern is for children, who are the most vulnerable in a region already heavily affected by conflict and where humanitarian assistance remains insufficient due to a lack of resources,” said Philippe Guiton, National Director of World Vision DRC. “Drawing on our experience and working alongside all stakeholders, we are taking appropriate measures to limit the spread of this outbreak and save lives, particularly through hygiene promotion, with a special focus on areas hosting increasing numbers of internally displaced people. World Vision is working closely with health authorities to respond to this new disease”.

World Vision Ireland CEO, Gillian Barnett, highlighted the urgency of international support: “Children are especially vulnerable in contexts like Ituri, where families are already facing conflict, displacement and hunger. Our teams and partners are focused on supporting communities with prevention measures, while preparing to scale up response efforts if needed”.
While expressing its sympathy to families grieving as a result of this outbreak, World Vision reaffirms its commitment to supporting the response alongside health authorities and humanitarian partners, particularly in the areas of child protection, prevention through the promotion of good hygiene practices, and infection prevention and control.

World Vision has extensive experience responding to Ebola outbreaks in DRC, Uganda, Sierra Leone, and across West Africa. During the 2018–2019 outbreak in eastern DRC, the organisation trained faith leaders and motorbike riders to deliver life-saving messages to hard-to-reach communities.

World Vision Ireland has also played an important role in global efforts to combat Ebola through its support for the EBODAC programme (2014–2020) – the Ebola Vaccine Deployment, Acceptance and Compliance initiative. This European Union-funded consortium brought together international partners to improve vaccine deployment, build community trust, and address misinformation during Ebola outbreaks. 

More recently, World Vision supported over 200,000 children and patients during the outbreak in Bulape, Kasai Province, which was successfully declared over in December 2025.

As the situation in Ituri evolves, World Vision continues to work alongside health authorities and partners to prevent the spread of infection, protect vulnerable communities, and deliver life-saving support.

ENDS

World Vision has spokespeople in the region available for interview.

For further information or to organise an interview, please contact: Róisín Drayne, Senior Communications Manager, World Vision Ireland at roisin.drayne@worldvision.ie.

Notes to Editor
World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.  World Vision carries out lifesaving humanitarian efforts with investments from numerous partners, including institutional donors, faith-based organisations, corporations and governments. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.ie