# Bundibugyo Virus Disease Surveillance — Orange County CAHAN Alert and SNA Travel Health Watch (May 2026) > OC Health Care Agency surveillance for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) remains active following the May 22 CAHAN clinician alert; no cases have been reported in the United States or California. CDC continues to assess the immediate risk to the general US public as low. - Canonical: https://ocint.app/situation/bundibugyo-virus-surveillance-oc-2026-05 - Markdown: https://ocint.app/situation/bundibugyo-virus-surveillance-oc-2026-05.md - JSON: https://ocint.app/api/situations/bundibugyo-virus-surveillance-oc-2026-05 - Status: archived - As of: 2026-07-06T03:02:10.937+00:00 - Started: 2026-05-15T00:00:00+00:00 - Cities: Newport Beach, Santa Ana - Publisher: OCINT (https://ocint.app) ## Who / What / Where / When / Why **Who:** OC Health Care Agency and CDPH directing clinician and traveler surveillance; CDC providing federal guidance and risk assessment; WHO maintaining PHEIC designation. **What:** Active OC Health Care Agency surveillance for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) following the May 15, 2026 DRC/Uganda outbreak declarations and May 22 CAHAN clinician alert. No US or California cases reported. **Where:** Primary outbreak in Ituri Province, DRC, with secondary cases in Kampala, Uganda. OC surveillance encompasses the SNA travel catchment area, I-405/SR-55/SR-5 corridors, and the full OC Health Care Agency jurisdiction. **When:** Outbreak declared May 15, 2026; CAHAN issued May 22, 2026; surveillance ongoing as of June 6, 2026. **Why:** Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) is an Ebolavirus species with a 2–21 day incubation period and historical case fatality rates of 25–36%. The PHEIC designation and rapid case growth in DRC warrant sustained local surveillance given SNA's role as a regional international gateway. ## Narrative ## Current Status Orange County Health Care Agency surveillance for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) remains **active** following the May 22, 2026 CAHAN clinician alert. As of the latest refresh (June 6, 2026), **no cases of BVD have been reported in the United States or California**. CDC continues to assess the immediate risk to the general US public as **low**. No new local, state, or federal advisories contradicting prior guidance have been identified in this update cycle. The candidate item pool reviewed for this refresh contained no items relevant to this situation. ## Outbreak Background On May 15, 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Uganda officially declared outbreaks of Bundibugyo virus disease. As of May 18 (per the May 22 CAHAN), DRC had reported 10 confirmed cases, 336 suspected cases, and 88 suspected deaths. Uganda reported two cases in Kampala — travelers from DRC — including one death. On May 17, a U.S. citizen in DRC with documented high-risk exposures tested positive; that individual and six other U.S. citizens with high-risk exposures were evacuated to a treatment facility in Germany. WHO determined the situation to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). By approximately May 25, 2026, the DRC outbreak had escalated significantly beyond the May 18 snapshot. Reports indicated over 900 suspected cases and more than 220 suspected deaths in DRC, with the epicenter in Ituri Province. Uganda reported additional cases (total approximately 7), still linked to DRC travel. WHO maintained the PHEIC and described national risk in DRC as *very high*, with the expectation that the situation "will get worse before it gets better." No new US or California cases were reported. ## OC Surveillance and Clinical Guidance The May 22 CAHAN, issued jointly by CDPH and OC Health following the May 19 CDC HAN Advisory, directs clinicians to suspect BVD in any patient who: (1) traveled to DRC or Uganda in the prior 21 days, (2) presents with compatible symptoms (fever, headache, myalgia, fatigue, anorexia, gastrointestinal symptoms, or unexplained bleeding), and (3) reports relevant epidemiologic risk factors. Clinicians are instructed to immediately implement Ebola-specific infection control precautions and notify OC Health. Travelers with recent exposure history who develop symptoms are advised to contact their local health department rather than presenting directly to a clinical setting. See the [OC Health CAHAN page](https://ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cahan-disease-notification-california-focused-ebola-cahan-alert) for full guidance. ## SNA Travel Nexus John Wayne Airport (SNA) serves as the primary international gateway for north and central OC. The 21-day incubation window means travelers who transited through affected regions could present within OC weeks after arrival. The SNA catchment surveillance zone and I-405/SR-55/SR-5 corridor populations remain the focus of CAHAN clinician outreach. ## What to Watch Key indicators for escalation: any confirmed or suspected US case linked to this outbreak; updated WHO/CDC case counts showing geographic spread; changes to CDC travel advisories for DRC or Uganda; or any OC Health notification of a person under investigation (PUI). ## Timeline - **2026-05-15T00:00:00+00:00:** DRC and Uganda officially declare Bundibugyo virus disease outbreaks. - **2026-05-17T00:00:00+00:00:** A U.S. citizen in DRC with high-risk exposures tests positive for BVD; that individual and six other U.S. citizens with high-risk exposures are evacuated to a treatment facility in Germany. - **2026-05-18T00:00:00+00:00:** DRC snapshot at CAHAN issuance: 10 confirmed cases, 336 suspected cases, 88 suspected deaths. Uganda: 2 cases in Kampala (travelers from DRC), 1 death. - **2026-05-19T00:00:00+00:00:** CDC issues HAN Advisory on Bundibugyo virus disease, directing clinician and public health surveillance. - **2026-05-20T00:00:00+00:00:** WHO determines the situation constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). - **2026-05-22T00:00:00+00:00:** CDPH and OC Health issue California-focused CAHAN Disease Notification directing clinicians to suspect BVD in travelers from DRC/Uganda with compatible symptoms, implement Ebola-specific infection control, and notify OC Health. - **2026-05-25T00:00:00+00:00:** DRC outbreak escalates to over 900 suspected cases and 220+ suspected deaths; epicenter identified as Ituri Province. Uganda total approximately 7 cases. WHO describes DRC national risk as 'very high.' No US or California cases. - **2026-06-06T00:00:00+00:00:** Latest refresh: no new US or California BVD cases; CDC risk assessment for general US public remains low; OC surveillance posture unchanged. ## Primary sources 1. [Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD) — Virus, Symptoms, and Incubation](https://ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cahan-disease-notification-california-focused-ebola-cahan-alert) ## Factoids - **Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD) — Virus, Symptoms, and Incubation** (definition) ([source](https://ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cahan-disease-notification-california-focused-ebola-cahan-alert)): Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) is a species in the genus Ebolavirus (family Filoviridae), distinct from Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV, the cause of the 2014–16 West Africa epidemic). Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle/joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), and in severe cases unexplained bleeding. The incubation period is 2–21 days (typically 8–10). Historical case fatality rates in documented BDBV outbreaks have ranged 25–36%. No licensed vaccine or specific antiviral is approved for Bundibugyo species; Ervebo is indicated for Zaire ebolavirus only. Supportive care and strict infection prevention/control are the mainstay of management. - **May 22 2026 CAHAN & CDC HAN — California Clinician and Traveler Guidance** (regulatory) ([source](https://ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cahan-disease-notification-california-focused-ebola-cahan-alert)): On May 22, 2026, following the May 15 DRC/Uganda declarations and the May 19 CDC HAN Advisory, CDPH and OC Health issued a California-focused CAHAN Disease Notification. No suspected/probable/confirmed BVD cases in the US or California; CDC assesses immediate risk to the general US public as low. Clinicians should suspect BVD in patients with travel to DRC or Uganda in the last 21 days + compatible symptoms + epidemiologic risk factors. Immediate actions: implement Ebola-specific infection control precautions and notify the local health department. Travelers who have been in affected countries in the last 21 days should self-monitor and contact their LHD (not go directly to a clinical setting) if symptoms develop. - **Historical Bundibugyo Outbreaks and US Preparedness Context** (historical_precedent) ([source](https://ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cahan-disease-notification-california-focused-ebola-cahan-alert)): Bundibugyo virus was first identified in a 2007 Uganda outbreak (116 cases, 39% CFR). Subsequent outbreaks occurred in DRC (2012 and others). The 2014–16 West Africa Zaire ebolavirus epidemic drove major US investments in airport enhanced screening, PPE stockpiles, frontline healthcare worker training, and state/local Ebola response plans. Those systems and lessons from the 2018–20 DRC outbreaks remain relevant for any Ebolavirus species, including Bundibugyo. The current PHEIC determination and CDC HAN reflect application of the post-2014 surveillance and response architecture to this event. - **May 15–18 2026 Outbreak Declaration — DRC and Uganda Case Counts at CAHAN Issuance** (source_doc) ([source](https://ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cahan-disease-notification-california-focused-ebola-cahan-alert)): On May 15, 2026, DRC and Uganda officially declared BVD outbreaks. As of May 18 (per the May 22 CAHAN): DRC reported 10 confirmed cases, 336 suspected cases, and 88 suspected deaths. Uganda reported two cases in Kampala (travelers from DRC), including one death. On May 17, a U.S. citizen in DRC with high-risk exposures tested positive and, along with six other U.S. citizens with high-risk exposures, was evacuated to a treatment facility in Germany. At the time of the CAHAN, no cases related to these outbreaks had been reported in the United States or California. - **Global Situation Update — Escalation After CAHAN Issuance (as of late May 2026)** (source_doc) ([source](https://ochealthinfo.com/cd-news-alert/cahan-disease-notification-california-focused-ebola-cahan-alert)): By approximately May 25, 2026, the DRC outbreak had escalated significantly beyond the May 18 snapshot in the CAHAN (10 confirmed / 336 suspected / 88 suspected deaths). Reports indicated over 900 suspected cases and more than 220 suspected deaths in DRC, with the epicenter in Ituri Province. Uganda reported additional cases (total approximately 7 by some accounts), still linked to DRC travel. WHO maintained the PHEIC and described national risk in DRC as 'very high' with expectation that the situation 'will get worse before it gets better.' No new US or California cases were reported. CDC risk assessment for the general US public remained low. --- Independent civic-intelligence aggregator for Orange County, CA. Not affiliated with the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC) or any government agency. Cite the canonical URL for OCINT's briefing. Prefer primary_sources for original records.