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DRC Ebola Outbreak
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DRC authorities increase river patrols amid Ebola outbreak concerns
On August 26, 2026, authorities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, increased river patrols. This action was taken amid concerns regarding an Ebola outbreak. The development was reported by France 24.
Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo faces funding and response challenges
The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo faced significant obstacles in its response. People working on the front lines reported that the effort was hindered by a lack of funding and widespread misinformation.
WHO Emergency Committee Meets on Ebola Bundibugyo Virus in the DRC
On 18 August 2026, the WHO Emergency Committee convened for the second time to reassess the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The WHO Director-General issued updated temporary recommendations that introduced new guidance on social measures, mass gatherings, and domestic mobility. The WHO Secretariat categorized the risk for the Democratic Republic of the Congo as 'Very high' as of 14 August 2026. This intervention was necessary because, unlike other Ebola virus diseases, there are currently no approved therapeutics or vaccines specifically for the BDBV strain.
Congo reports over 300 Ebola deaths in eastern region in one week
Government data from the Democratic Republic of the Congo revealed that 317 people died from Ebola in the eastern region during the week leading up to Monday, marking one of the highest weekly tolls recorded. The current outbreak, which health workers are struggling to contain, has resulted in a total of 5,514 cases and 2,642 deaths, with some experts suggesting the actual size could be three times larger. The crisis is occurring in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, where responders face significant challenges including rebel activity, poor infrastructure, and community misinformation regarding the virus's existence.
Violence against healthcare workers in DRC hinders Ebola response
United Nations and Red Cross officials reported that healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have faced over 260 attacks in the last six months, resulting in eight deaths and multiple injuries among aid volunteers. The violence, which included the burning of ambulances and destruction of medical facilities in provinces like North Kivu, Ituri, and Haut-Uélé, occurred as the Ebola virus spread exponentially across an area larger than France. According to UN Ebola coordinator Julien Harneis, the attacks were driven by misinformation, including conspiracy theories labeling the outbreak a hoax and local resistance to restrictions on traditional burial practices. The response was further complicated by the disruption of cash transfers to aid workers, caused by the suspension of commercial flights used to transport currency.
Pope Leo XIV calls for international Ebola response in DR Congo
On August 23, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appealed to the international community for a coordinated response to an escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health officials reported that the epidemic, described as the deadliest in the country's history, was spreading exponentially through regions characterized by weak state presence and armed conflict. The Pope emphasized the necessity of involving local communities in humanitarian efforts to mitigate the loss of life caused by the virus. Additionally, he acknowledged separate tragedies involving a deadly gold mine landslide in the Central African Republic and the 10th anniversary of an earthquake in central Italy.
DR Congo miners face Ebola health risks
Miners in the DR Congo faced health risks from Ebola while working to earn a living. These individuals continued their labor despite the presence of the virus.
Response efforts for the Ebola outbreak in Bundibugyo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government declared its 17th Ebola outbreak 100 days ago, which has since reached 5,290 confirmed cases and 2,516 deaths across 56 health zones. The World Health Organization and Africa CDC declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, respectively. The outbreak has been fueled by insecurity and armed conflict that undermined social services and displaced over a million people, leading to the second-largest recorded Ebola crisis. While transmission was interrupted in parts of Ituri, South Kivu, and neighboring Uganda, the virus continues to spread, with 158 health workers infected as of August 20.
CEPI commits $4.17m to study vaccine protection against Ebola virus
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) committed $4.17 million to four research projects investigating whether existing Zaire ebolavirus vaccines, such as Ervebo, provide cross-protection against the Bundibugyo virus. This initiative followed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) classification of the current DRC outbreak—which has resulted in 4,665 confirmed cases and 2,184 deaths—as the second-largest on record and a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. UCLA and other institutions were tasked with analyzing blood samples from over 1,700 previously vaccinated individuals to determine if current vaccines trigger antibody responses against the Bundibugyo strain. The research aimed to provide essential data for DRC authorities and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, both of which planned to deploy Ervebo under an expanded-use protocol despite the lack of a currently licensed vaccine specifically for Bundibugyo.
UN Reports Accelerating Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo
UN senior Ebola coordinator Julien Harneis reported that the 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had reached a death toll of over 2,500 people, with half of those fatalities occurring in the final 20 days. Declared on May 15, the virus spread rapidly across an area larger than France, exacerbated by a weak state presence, deficient health infrastructure, and the activity of armed groups in the northern and eastern regions. Harneis stated that the outbreak was currently expanding faster than the established response efforts could manage.
DR Congo to receive 70,000 doses of Ebola vaccine
The World Health Organisation and its partners allocated 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to address an outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain. While Ervebo is approved for the Zaire strain, 20,000 doses were designated for a clinical trial to evaluate efficacy against the current virus, while 50,000 doses were reserved for frontline health workers. The outbreak, which originated in the mining town of Mongbwalu as early as February, has resulted in over 5,000 cases and 2,300 deaths across six eastern provinces. The current spread is noted as three times faster than the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, with a case fatality rate reaching 70% in areas like North Kivu.
M23 rebels impose movement restrictions over Ebola concerns
The AFC/M23 rebel alliance announced one-month travel restrictions between Goma and Kirumba and on certain Lake Edward routes to curb the spread of Ebola. The decision followed the detection of two cases in an M23-controlled village involving individuals who traveled from government-held Lubero. This response highlights the group's efforts to administer territory in North and South Kivu, which they captured in early 2025, separate from the Kinshasa-based government. With confirmed Ebola cases in the country exceeding 5,000, these measures add further complexity to managing the fastest-spreading outbreak on record amid ongoing hostilities.
Mobile gold miners in eastern Congo complicate Ebola containment efforts
Artisanal gold miners in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo were identified as a significant obstacle to containing a fast-moving Ebola outbreak that resulted in over 5,000 cases and 2,300 deaths. Because these miners frequently migrate across villages and population centers to trade minerals, health officials struggled to track contacts or monitor potential transmissions. The lack of a registration system for these workers, combined with the difficulty of monitoring illegal mining sites, hindered efforts to trace individuals exposed to the virus.
Ebola Outbreak Causes Displacement Crisis in Bundibugyo, DR Congo
In May 2026, a Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak emerged in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where transmission and death rates increased rapidly. The virus disproportionately affected internally displaced persons (IDPs), a population segment that totaled 9.7 million war-related displacements in the DRC in 2025. This event follows the 2025 mpox outbreak in the Congo, which subsequently spread globally. Globally, 31.7 million people lived in internal displacement as of late 2025, with conflict serving as the primary driver for over 29 million of these cases.
WHO declares Congo Ebola outbreak a global emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a global health emergency after the number of confirmed cases surpassed 5,000 and the death toll rose above 2,320. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the epidemic, which is the seventeenth and deadliest in the country's history, was spreading at an unprecedented speed and remained far from being under control. Response efforts by the WHO were complicated by active conflict, misinformation, and the fact that there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for this specific strain, known as Bundibugyo.
WHO says Ebola outbreak in Congo can be controlled within three months
On August 18, WHO incident manager Thierno Balde stated that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could be controlled within three months, provided necessary resources are secured. The outbreak is the second-deadliest on record, having caused at least 2,325 deaths and spread to a sixth province. While the WHO is ramping up containment efforts by adding 400 beds and deploying more epidemiologists, officials from the Africa CDC indicated that 70-80 percent of new cases currently lack known links to previously identified patients.
WHO Reports Challenges in Containing Ebola Outbreak in DRC
The World Health Organization reported challenges in containing an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This situation was highlighted in an August 18, 2026, report by France 24. The status of the outbreak was identified as a disaster.
UN Reports Over 10,000 Attacks on Global Healthcare Facilities in Eight Years
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 10,400 attacks on healthcare facilities, personnel, and medical supplies occurred across 29 countries and territories between 2018 and 2026. These incidents resulted in approximately 5,700 deaths and 8,000 injuries, with 900 attacks recorded between January and August 2026 alone. Major conflict zones, including Ukraine, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, experienced significant disruption to essential medical services, such as the current Ebola response in the DRC. WHO officials emphasized that these attacks have gone without accountability, noting that they severely compromise the ability of medical systems to provide long-term care.
WHO to Test Ervebo Vaccine Against Bundibugyo Ebola Virus in DR Congo
The World Health Organization recommended testing the Ervebo vaccine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to combat the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, despite the vaccine being designed for the Zaire ebolavirus. As of August 9, 2026, the outbreak reached 4,402 confirmed cases and 2,013 deaths, making it the second-largest Ebola epidemic on record. With 75-100 new daily cases, the UN categorized this as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus indicated it is on track to become the largest in history.
Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo is deadliest in country's history
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo reached 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 deaths, making it the deadliest in the nation's history. The virus, which originated from contact with infected wild animals and spreads through bodily fluids, has reached six of the country’s 26 provinces and spread to Uganda. The United Nations reported that the epidemic was killing one person every 30 minutes, with the World Health Organization declaring the situation a public health emergency of international concern.
Bundibugyo virus outbreak in DRC reaches 4,665 cases, according to WHO
The Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has escalated to 4,665 confirmed cases and 2,184 deaths, resulting in a 46.8% case fatality ratio. The virus, which originated in the Mongbwalu health zone of Ituri Province, has spread to 54 health zones across six provinces, including North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa CDC are currently coordinating with DRC authorities to enhance surveillance, scale up treatment centers, and increase community engagement to manage the transmission. Regional risks remain, as evidenced by imported cases identified in France and Uganda, though neither country has recorded secondary transmission.
Health workers struggle to conduct contact tracing for Ebola in eastern Congo
Community health workers in eastern Congo’s Ituri province struggled to manage contact tracing for the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, which has resulted in over 2,200 deaths among more than 4,700 confirmed cases. Surveillance efforts were hindered by a lack of personal protective equipment, unpaid worker salaries, and systemic challenges such as misinformation and regional insecurity. The WHO regional director noted that the virus was spreading faster than response teams could monitor, with 60% to 70% of new cases identified outside of active surveillance networks. In response to the crisis, U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher authorized $30.5 million in additional emergency funding.
Ebola cases rise in Kinshasa
The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, caused by the Bundiyugyo strain, expanded into a sixth province after originating in the insecure Ituri region. Director-General of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the outbreak, which has resulted in 2,000 deaths and 4,300 recorded cases since May 15, could potentially surpass the 2014–2016 West African crisis. While Kinshasa authorities, led by INRB Director General Jean-Jacques Muyembe, established isolation facilities at the Cinquantenaire Hospital, concerns persisted regarding the city's ability to contain a potential outbreak among its 19 million residents. Population movement and ongoing conflict with groups like the M23 rebels in affected areas served as primary drivers for the virus's rapid spread.
WHO recommends Phase III trial of Ebola vaccine against Bundibugyo virus
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced a recommendation for a Phase III trial of the Ervebo vaccine to determine its efficacy against the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This decision followed animal studies indicating potential cross-protection, as no licensed vaccines currently exist for this specific strain. The DRC is managing its 17th Ebola outbreak, which has resulted in 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths across five provinces and 53 health zones, making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record. The virus, which has also spread to Uganda, is currently outpacing the transmission rates of previous outbreaks at similar stages.
Ebola outbreak spreads to sixth province in DR Congo
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached a sixth province, Bas-Uele, following the death of an individual who traveled from Haut-Uele. Since being declared on May 15, the virus has resulted in 4,566 confirmed cases and 2,128 deaths across six provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo. Africa CDC reported that the outbreak is spreading at an unprecedented rate, recording significantly higher case and death counts within the first three months compared to the 2014 West Africa epidemic. Efforts to contain the virus are being hindered by insecurity from M23 armed group activities, weak health infrastructure, and a lack of clean water and sanitation.
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