The WHO has declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda an international Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), but the operational risk to most productions remains low. We explain where the real risks lie, and when additional precautions are appropriate.

The outbreak remains a serious regional public health emergency: as of early July more than 1,480 confirmed cases have been reported across DRC, Uganda plus one imported case in France, another in Germany. The vast majority of cases remain in eastern DRC, with limited cross-border spread into Uganda. The single case identified in France occurred in a doctor returning from treating patients in DRC and does not indicate community transmission in Europe. Likewise, the case in Germany involved a US surgeon who was medically evacuated after becoming infected while working in DRC. Again, it does not represent community transmission in Europe.

Importantly, a PHEIC is not the same as a pandemic: indeed the WHO has confirmed that the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency and currently assesses the global risk as low.

Potential Impact on Productions

While the outbreak is much larger than first thought and has spread from DRC into Uganda, the only realistic exposure scenario for the screen industries is newsgathering, documentary or humanitarian filming within affected areas of eastern DRC, or in locations directly supporting the outbreak response.

For productions elsewhere in Africa, Europe, North America and the UK, there is currently no evidence of any elevated operational risk associated with this outbreak. Ebola is not airborne and does not spread like COVID-19 or influenza. Infection requires direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or contaminated materials such as bedding.

Productions considering work in affected or neighbouring areas should:

  • Monitor WHO, Africa CDC, FCDO and local public health advice before and during travel.
  • Avoid outbreak zones unless travel is operationally essential.
  • Avoid healthcare facilities treating Ebola patients, funerals and other settings where direct exposure to bodily fluids could occur.
  • Use experienced local fixers, medical advisers and security support.
  • Review medical evacuation, insurance and contingency arrangements.
  • Brief all crew on infection prevention, hand hygiene, symptom recognition and reporting procedures.
  • Build flexibility into schedules, as local movement restrictions or response activities may affect access.

The outbreak is being caused by Bundibugyo virus, a rare form of Ebola for which there are currently no licensed vaccines or virus-specific treatments. Response therefore relies on rapid diagnosis, isolation of cases, contact tracing, infection prevention measures and strong community engagement.

Although the outbreak continues to expand in eastern DRC, both DRC and Uganda have considerable experience managing Ebola outbreaks, supported by WHO and international partners. WHO does not recommend any restrictions on travel or trade with either country at this time.

First Option will continue to monitor guidance from WHO, Africa CDC and the UK Health Security Agency. Should the operational risk to travelling productions change, we will issue updated advice.

Is This the 'New COVID'?

NO. 

SARS-CoV-2 spreads through the air. Ebola doesn’t.

Ebola virus disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of someone who is already ill, or from contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing. You can’t catch it simply by being in the same room as someone, or by passing them in the street.

The natural history of infection is also very different. After exposure, there is an incubation period of 2–21 days, during which the infected person has no symptoms and is not infectious. Once illness begins, it typically starts abruptly with fever, severe headache, muscle pain and profound fatigue. Within days, many patients develop relentless vomiting, severe diarrhoea and dehydration. As the disease progresses, it can damage the liver, kidneys and other organs, with some patients developing internal and external bleeding.

By the time an infected person is at their most infectious, they are usually critically ill, often unable to travel or carry out normal daily activities. Transmission typically occurs while family members or healthcare workers are providing close personal care, or during traditional burial practices involving direct contact with the deceased.

That’s why Ebola outbreaks behave very differently from respiratory pandemics. They can be devastating locally, but they don’t spread silently through large populations in the way COVID-19 did.

This outbreak is particularly challenging because it is centred on Ituri Province, where conflict, population displacement and a busy mining economy mean people move frequently between communities and across international borders. These factors have been compounded by recent reductions in US-funded Ebola surveillance and response programmes, following the suspension of USAID support. Public health agencies have warned that such cuts risk weakening early detection and outbreak response capacity.

Despite these challenges, the virus still relies on close physical contact for transmission. For the wider public – and for productions operating outside the affected region – the risk remains very low.

Ebola 101

What Is It?

Ebola first appeared in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo – in a village near the Ebola River in the northern DRC.

It’s the common name for a group of severe viral haemorrhagic fevers caused by several closely-related filoviruses. They are naturally maintained in wild animal populations and occasionally spill over into humans, before spreading through close contact with infected people. Fruit bats are thought to be the natural reservoir, but great apes and other mammals can also become infected and may transmit the virus to humans.

There are five recognised ebolavirus species. Four have caused human infection, the other – Reston – is found in the Philippines and China and can infect humans but has never been associated with human illness. It’s the only known member of the genus that causes disease in non-human primates, yet seemingly doesn’t affect humans.

Not everyone exposed will get the disease, with 11% in endemic areas being seropositive and apparently well. And around a quarter will have minimal symptoms.

Four Ebola viruses are known to cause disease in humans:

  • Zaire ebolavirus – the most common and deadliest species, responsible for the 2014–16 West African epidemic. Licensed vaccines and antibody treatments are available.
  • Sudan ebolavirus – has caused several outbreaks, but currently has no licensed vaccine or specific treatment.
  • Bundibugyo ebolavirus – the virus responsible for the current outbreak. It has only been seen twice previously (Uganda in 2007 and DRC in 2012). There are currently no licensed vaccines or virus-specific treatments.
  • Taï Forest ebolavirus – an extremely rare virus, with only a single confirmed human infection recorded.

In resource-limited settings it’s often a diagnosis of exclusion – you need to rule out malaria, typhoid, shigellosis, cholera, leptospirosis, plague, rickettsiosis, relapsing fever, meningitis, hepatitis and other VHFs.

Where lab facilities are available it’s possible to use techniques like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or other antigen detection tests, a serum neutralization test, RT-PCR. However, samples from patients represent an extreme biohazard risk and are a serious hazard to staff. Testing should be conducted under maximum ‘BSL4’ biological containment conditions.

Organisms in Hazard Group 4 are so designated because they cause severe human disease, they pose a serious hazard to workers, can spread within communities and usually lack effective prophylaxis or treatment.

The overall case fatality rate (CFR) for Ebola virus disease averages about 60% globally. However, the mortality rate varies significantly depending on the specific viral species causing the infection.

  • Zaire virus (Orthoebolavirus zairense): ~66.6% CFR
  • Sudan virus (O. sudanense): ~48.5% CFR
  • Bundibugyo virus (O. bundibugyoense): ~33% to 50% CFR (historically averaging ~32.8%)
  • Taï Forest virus (O. taiense): 0% CFR (rare, with only one known non-fatal human case)

Treatment is largely supportive, including intravenous fluids, oxygen, correction of electrolyte imbalances and management of complications. Modern supportive care has significantly improved survival, but outcomes remain heavily dependent on early diagnosis and access to specialist medical care.

Most patients will have debilitating long term symptoms, however. It can cause blindness and persist in semen for months.

While Zaire is historically the most lethal variant, recent medical advancements have significantly improved survival outcomes. Specialized treatments such as monoclonal antibodies (e.g. Inmazeb and Ebanga) and approved vaccines (like Ervebo) have been developed especially for the Zaire strain, reducing fatalities when administered early. There are clinical trials in place for therapeutics aimed at Bundibugyo.

Ebola is not a particularly efficient human pathogen. Its victims don’t shed it before they show symptoms, it’s not airborne and outbreaks associated with rapidly-fatal haemorrhagic fevers tend to burn out quickly. So the only way to get it (apart from its reservoir in fruit bats and a couple of other species) is to come into contact with the body fluids of someone in the active stage of the disease. You won’t get it from someone who’s infected but not showing any symptoms.

The basic reproduction number (R0) value for Ebola is generally around 1.5–2, far lower than highly transmissible respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. So, each person that gets it is likely to infect up to two more. However, in countries with organised healthcare systems, sophisticated contact tracing and surveillance will be in place for anyone presenting with Ebola, and if all their contacts are identified and isolated before they show symptoms that stops it in its tracks. And the R0 goes to zero.

For film and television productions operating outside affected areas, the practical risk is therefore negligible.

Specialist: Sean Derrig

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Sean is a microbiologist with extensive experience in infection control and outbreak management. He has advised NHS Trusts, blue-chip corporates and Michelin-starred restaurant groups across Europe, North America and Australasia. He also has a side hustle in formulation chemistry and bioremediation. Since joining First Option in early 2020, Sean has been providing productions and the industry clear, practical, evidence-based guidance and dispelling myths and misinformation. He is a passionate science communicator so you probably wouldn't want to get stuck in a lift with him.

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Article last updated on Jul 9th, 2026

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