Principles for equitable access to medical tools for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus

8 June, 2026 - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is deeply concerned by the impact of the outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus officially declared by the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 15 May 2026. This outbreak once again exposes persistent failures to  prioritise, fund, and produce accessible medical tools for diseases disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. As the response scales up, it is critical to apply lessons learned from past epidemics, including COVID-19 and previous Ebola disease outbreaks. MSF calls on donor agencies, governments and research institutions to ensure that enforceable access arrangements are embedded in research and development processes from the outset for equitable access to medical tools for the Bundibugyo virus.