The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) the largest in the country’s history, as infections and deaths continue to rise.
According to the WHO, the outbreak had recorded 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths as of 30 July 2026, representing a fatality rate of about 44 percent.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, was officially declared on 15 May 2026.
It has now surpassed the country’s previous largest outbreak between 2018 and 2020, which recorded nearly 3,500 cases and almost 2,300 deaths.
Unlike the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain. However, vaccine candidates are under development in the United Kingdom and Singapore.
Ebola is a severe viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated materials. The disease has claimed more than 15,000 lives across Africa over the past five decades.
Outbreak Intensifies
The WHO warned that the outbreak is continuing to intensify, with sustained community transmission and a steady rise in both infections and fatalities.
During the last reporting week alone, health authorities recorded 567 new cases and 296 deaths. The highest weekly figures since the outbreak began. The agency said the rapid increase highlights the exceptional pace at which the virus is spreading.
Response efforts have also been complicated by insecurity, population displacement and cross-border movement. This has made it more difficult for health workers to trace contacts and contain transmission.
The outbreak remains centred in Ituri Province in northeastern DR Congo, near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. However, infections have also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu. These are regions where large areas remain under the control of the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group.
The WHO warned that continued insecurity and population movement increase the risk of the virus spreading to new areas.
Beyond DR Congo, 20 cases have been confirmed in Uganda, while France has reported one imported case. Two patients diagnosed in DR Congo were later transferred to Germany for treatment.
On 30 July, the WHO announced that the most promising Ebola vaccine candidate would be developed in Singapore. However, clinical trials for another vaccine have already begun in the United Kingdom.
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