Ebola Disease Distribution Map: Cases of Ebola Disease in Africa Since 1976

Ebolaviruses were first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, ebolaviruses have emerged periodically from the natural reservoir (which remains unknown) and infected people in several African countries. This map shows the distribution of ebolaviruses in Africa since its discovery in 1976.

Ebola Disease Outbreaks by Species and Size, Since 1976

2022 Map of Ebola Virus outbreaks in Africa by species and size since 1976.

Zaire ebolavirusBundibugyo ebolavirus, and Sudan ebolavirus are the three species of ebolaviruses responsible for the larger outbreaks of Ebola disease in Africa. Zaire ebolavirus is the most fatal species. It was associated with the 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa, the largest Ebola disease outbreak to date with more than 28,600 cases, as well as the 2018–2020 outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a small number of cases associated with this outbreak were reported in Uganda. Other large outbreaks of Zaire ebolavirus have resulted in hundreds of cases in DRC and Gabon. Smaller outbreaks of this species have also occurred in DRC and Gabon, as well as the Republic of the Congo and South Africa. Sudan ebolavirus, with a fatality rate of 50 percent, has been the cause of several outbreaks in Uganda and others near the border between South Sudan and DRC. Bundibugyo ebolavirus, discovered in 2007, was associated with two outbreaks, one in DRC and the other on the border of DRC and Uganda. Taï Forest ebolavirus was the cause of one case identified in Côte d’Ivoire.

Ebola Virus Outbreaks
Country Cases Deaths Species Year
Uganda 164 55 Sudan ebolavirus 2022
Dem Rep of the Congo 1 1 Zaire ebolavirus 2022
Dem Rep of the Congo 5 5 Zaire ebolavirus 2022
Dem. Rep of the Congo 11 9 Zaire ebolavirus 2021
Dem. Rep of the Congo 12 6 Zaire ebolavirus 2021
Guinea 23 12 Zaire ebolavirus 2021
Dem. Rep. of the Congo 130 55 Zaire ebolavirus 2020
Dem. Rep. of the Congo, Uganda 3470 2287 Zaire ebolavirus 2018-2020
Dem. Rep. of the Congo 54 33 Zaire ebolavirus 2018
Dem. Rep. of the Congo 8 4 Zaire ebolavirus 2017
Dem. Rep. of the Congo 66 49 Zaire ebolavirus 2014
Multiple countries 28646 11323 Zaire ebolavirus 2014-2016
Uganda 6* 3* Sudan ebolavirus 2012
Dem. Rep. of the Congo 36* 13* Bundibugyo ebolavirus 2012
Uganda 11* 4* Sudan ebolavirus 2012
Uganda 1 1 Sudan ebolavirus 2011
Dem. Rep. of the Congo 32 15 Zaire ebolavirus 2008
Uganda 149 37 Bundibugyo ebolavirus 2007
Dem. Rep. of the Congo 264 187 Zaire ebolavirus 2007
Sudan (present day South Sudan) 17 7 Sudan ebolavirus 2004
Republic of Congo 35 29 Zaire ebolavirus 2003
Republic of Congo 143 128 Zaire ebolavirus 2002
Republic of Congo 57 43 Zaire ebolavirus 2001
Gabon 65 53 Zaire ebolavirus 2001
Uganda 425 224 Sudan ebolavirus 2000
South Africa 2 1 Zaire ebolavirus 1996
Gabon 60 45 Zaire ebolavirus 1996
Gabon 37 21 Zaire ebolavirus 1996
Zaire (present day DRC) 315 250 Zaire ebolavirus 1995
Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 1 0 Taï Forest ebolavirus 1994
Gabon 52 31 Zaire ebolavirus 1994
Sudan (present day South Sudan) 34 22 Sudan ebolavirus 1979
Zaire (present day DRC) 1 1 Zaire ebolavirus 1977
Sudan (present day South Sudan) 284 151 Sudan ebolavirus 1976
Zaire (present day DRC) 318 280 Zaire ebolavirus 1976

*Numbers reflect laboratory confirmed cases only.