The World Health Organization warns that the latest Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the most severe in history, with the current death toll at 1,587.
On Saturday, 1 Aug 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is the largest and most severe in the country's history.
As of 30 July, DR Congo has confirmed 3,605 Ebola cases, with 1,587 deaths, reflecting a fatality rate of 44%.
WHO stated in a post on X that the outbreak is “intensifying, with continuous transmission and steadily increasing numbers of confirmed cases and deaths.”
The WHO added that last week marked the highest weekly Ebola case count, with 567 new infections and 296 deaths, underscoring an “exceptionally rapid transmission rate.”
“Factors such as regional instability, population displacement, and cross-border movements continue to hinder response efforts and increase the risk of wider spread,” WHO said.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain. DR Congo declared the outbreak on 15 May 2026. Its severity has surpassed the previous largest outbreak from 2018 to 2020, which recorded about 3,500 cases and nearly 2,300 deaths.
There is currently no official vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain. However, vaccines are under development in the United Kingdom and Singapore.
The Ebola virus, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids, has claimed over 15,000 lives across Africa in the past 50 years.
The ongoing outbreak centers in Ituri province in northeastern DR Congo, bordering South Sudan and Uganda.
The virus has also spread to other regions including North and South Kivu provinces, many of which are controlled by the armed group M23, supported by Rwanda.
“The combination of unrest, population displacement, mobility, and cross-border travel complicates response operations and raises the risk of geographical spread,” WHO stated.
There have been reports of cases linked to the DR Congo outbreak in several countries, including 20 in Uganda and one in France. Additionally, two patients diagnosed in DR Congo were later transferred for treatment in Germany.
.bbc