KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported a total of 8,067 Ebola infections in its latest outbreak. According to health authorities, there have been 3,901 fatalities recorded up to September 26, resulting in a fatality rate close to 48%. The outbreak has now impacted 63 health zones across seven provinces, making it the largest and deadliest Ebola event ever documented in the country. On May 15, the DRC Ministry of Public Health officially announced the outbreak after laboratory tests confirmed the Bundibugyo virus as the causative agent.
This incident marks the 17th Ebola epidemic documented in the nation. The Bundibugyo virus can trigger severe illness and is transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. The World Health Organization states that no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targets this strain of Ebola. Consequently, health teams have relied heavily on surveillance, laboratory testing, clinical management, infection control, and contact tracing efforts. Community outreach remains a vital component of the response, as authorities aim to identify cases early and link patients to appropriate treatment centers.
Ituri continues to be the primary hub of transmission, although cases have now spread beyond that province. Infections have also been detected in North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut Uele, Bas Uele, and Sud Ubangi. As of September 23, Ituri had reported cases in 28 of its 36 health zones, while North Kivu had cases in 16 of its 34 zones. The extensive geographic spread has compelled health teams to maintain vigilant surveillance across urban, rural, and border regions.
Recent decline in new cases and fatalities
Recent data indicates a decrease in new infections and deaths compared to earlier phases of the outbreak. Incident cases declined by 20.3% over the last two 14-day periods, while fatalities dropped by 24.2% during the same timeframe. Nevertheless, certain areas within Ituri continue to experience active transmission, with multiple zones reporting ongoing spread. Health teams persist with testing, contact monitoring, and have intensified infection prevention measures at treatment sites and other locations handling suspected or confirmed Ebola cases.
By September 26, authorities had recorded 2,070 recoveries. Response teams are actively engaged in laboratory testing, patient care, and community surveillance across the affected provinces. Challenges persist, such as delays in diagnosing some cases promptly, which hampers quick patient transfer to treatment facilities. Community deaths also remain problematic, as individuals sometimes succumb before reaching specialized care. Early detection remains crucial to limit exposure among family members, caregivers, and health workers who may come into contact with infected individuals.
The outbreak now exceeds previous DRC records
The ongoing 2026 Ebola outbreak has surpassed the scale of the country’s previous epidemic from 2018 to 2020, which recorded 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. This current outbreak ranks as the second-largest Ebola event ever documented globally. The 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic remains the largest, with more than 28,600 confirmed infections and over 11,300 deaths. The comparison underscores the exceptional magnitude of the current crisis within the DRC’s long history of Ebola outbreaks.
Health officials continue to monitor border regions, as the outbreak extends into provinces neighboring other countries. Haut Uele borders South Sudan, while Sud Ubangi is adjacent to the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo. Efforts such as contact tracing, testing, treatment, and infection control are ongoing. The latest figures show a slowdown from recent peaks, but transmission has not yet been halted. With more than 8,000 confirmed cases and nearly 4,000 deaths, this outbreak remains one of the most severe Ebola emergencies on record.