Authorities in DR Congo have confirmed that the country is experiencing its deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, with the death toll now reaching 2,325.
On Monday, 17 Aug 2026 GMT+7, the health agency of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) confirmed that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the country is the deadliest in its history.
The death toll from this Ebola outbreak has risen to 2,325 since DR Congo officials declared the outbreak on 15 May 2026 GMT+7, surpassing the 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018-2020 outbreak.
Tom Fletcher, UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA), said last week that this outbreak is spreading faster than any previously recorded, warning that "this epidemic is claiming lives every 30 minutes."
The virus responsible for the current outbreak is the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no specific vaccine currently exists. However, several vaccines are under development, including one using the same technology as AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.
The DR Congo health institute reported on Sunday that there are now 4,945 confirmed Ebola cases, including 101 new cases in the past 24 hours.
Compared to previous outbreaks, cross-border cases are relatively few. As of 12 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Uganda, a neighboring country, confirmed 20 cases, while Germany has treated 2 patients and France has reported 1 case.
The World Health Organization (WHO) described the virus's transmission speed in DR Congo—already affecting 6 of the country's 26 provinces—as "extremely unusual."
According to Reuters, the deadliest Ebola outbreak globally from 2014-2016 in West Africa took nearly five months to reach 1,000 deaths. In contrast, this current outbreak reached 2,000 deaths within three months, though researchers note the virus may have been spreading undetected since February.
This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo since the virus was first discovered 50 years ago. Prolonged conflict and significant population displacement have further complicated the country’s efforts to control the spread.
The WHO hopes to reduce the outbreak within three months, but cautions this means containing the spread rather than completely ending the epidemic.
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Source:bbc