Case of Bundibugyo Virus Disease in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo with Lack of Transmission to Breastfeeding Infant.

Abstract

Disease due to Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), an Orthoebolavirus species, reemerged in April 2026, in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A 35-year-old woman transported the body of a possible BDBV-infected patient from Bunia in Ituri Province to Goma for burial; she was accompanied by an 8-month-old breastfeeding child. Six days after arrival in Goma, she noted onset of fever and malaise and was empirically started on therapy for malaria; 4 days later she developed bloody diarrhea and a bloody vaginal discharge and was started on metronidazole for possible amebic dysentery. When her condition worsened she was admitted to hospital in Goma, where a blood sample was positive by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for BDBV, with a second positive test on hospital day 7. By day 14 of hospitalization fever and major symptoms had resolved and repeat RT-PCR tests × 2 were negative. Her child did not show evidence of infection, and no family members or health care workers at HEAL Africa Hospital developed illness.