Ebola cases in DRC hit 5,515 as Pope Leo urges global action to save lives

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached 5,515 confirmed cases and 2,642 deaths, with a case fatality rate now nearing 48 percent. This marks the DRC's 17th Ebola epidemic and is on track to become the deadliest on record. Pope Leo has urged international action to help contain the epidemic, which is being exacerbated by armed conflict, displacement, and attacks on healthcare workers. Despite these challenges, contact tracing has significantly improved to over 85 percent. The outbreak affects Ituri and North Kivu provinces, and neighboring Uganda is also covered by the Public Health Emergency of International Concern designation.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing its second-largest and fastest-moving Ebola outbreak, with over 5,290 confirmed cases and 2,516 deaths reported as of August 21, 2026. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, is exacerbated by insecurity and displacement. The response prioritizes community involvement, protection of frontline health workers, and turning commitments into action. Progress has been made in some areas, but the emergency demands a significantly scaled-up response. Key needs include expanded surveillance, increased safe clinical care, enhanced community engagement, and predictable funding to prevent further loss of life.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) a global health emergency, with over 5,000 cases and more than 2,320 deaths. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated the epidemic is far from under control, with new chains of transmission continually being identified. This outbreak, the deadliest in the DRC's history, is complicated by the absence of an approved vaccine or treatment for this strain and is exacerbated by conflict, misinformation, and distrust of health workers. Response efforts are now focusing on motorbike riders due to their role in transporting patients and bodies, as the WHO emphasizes the need to break every chain of transmission to end the epidemic.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the deadliest in the country's history, with at least 2,325 deaths recorded. This surpasses the death toll from the 2018-20 outbreak. Confirmed cases have reached 4,945, with 101 new cases detected in the past 24 hours. The United Nations warned that the epidemic is killing one person every 30 minutes, affecting six of the DRC's 26 provinces, primarily in the north-east. The current surge is attributed to the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. This outbreak is also the fastest growing in the virus's known history. Uganda has also reported at least 20 cases.

The Ebola outbreak in Congo has surpassed 5,000 cases, with over 2,300 deaths reported as of Sunday. This outbreak is spreading at an unprecedented speed, outpacing response efforts in remote regions and is three times faster than the deadliest West African outbreak on record. The World Health Organization warns the epidemic is far from controlled, with a high risk of further national and international spread. Insecurity, displacement, and population movements fuel the outbreak, while violence against health workers, particularly in the hardest-hit Ituri province, significantly hinders response efforts. Challenges include a lack of information in communities, exhaustion among health workers, and the spread of the Bundibugyo virus outside of monitored populations.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 2,000 deaths, with 2,011 fatalities confirmed out of 4,381 cases across five provinces as of Tuesday. This outbreak, which began before its official declaration in May, is the fastest-growing on record for the DRC and is the second largest globally. Complicating the response are factors like unpaid health worker strikes, misinformation, and cultural burial traditions. Currently, there is no approved treatment or vaccine for the specific strain of Ebola involved, though vaccine trials are underway. A potential Ebola case was also reported in Israel involving a citizen returning from the DRC.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to a sixth province, Bas-Uele, following a death of a man who traveled from Haut-Uele. The World Health Organization head stated the outbreak is on track to be the deadliest in history, potentially surpassing the 2014-16 West Africa outbreak. This current outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, has killed over 2,100 people out of more than 4,500 cases since its declaration on May 15th, though sequencing suggests it began in February. The spread is complicated by unpaid health workers, rebel threats, community anger, and misinformation. Clinical trials for two potential treatments began last month.

The World Health Organization (WHO) head stated that the current Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is on track to surpass the deadliest outbreak in history, which occurred in West Africa from 2014 to 2016. This outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, has resulted in over 2,000 deaths out of more than 4,300 cases since its declaration on May 15, though it is believed to have started in February. The outbreak is characterized by its rapid spread in a remote, conflict-affected region, outpacing containment efforts. Unlike previous outbreaks, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus, and many new cases are occurring in communities inaccessible to health workers due to poor infrastructure, ongoing conflict, and misinformation. The WHO anticipates the outbreak's peak in approximately six months, with a possibility of it lasting up to a year.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has surpassed 1,500 deaths, with over 3,442 cases recorded. This represents a significant increase in fatalities over the past week, as authorities struggle to contain the virus's spread, particularly in the eastern regions. The outbreak is exacerbated by ongoing conflict, which hinders government control and infrastructure, and the lack of a proven vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Delays in contact tracing, access challenges, and community mistrust have further complicated response efforts. While mostly concentrated in Ituri province, cases have been confirmed in five other provinces, including Kisangani. Neighboring Uganda has declared its Ebola outbreak over.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing its fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history, with over 3,360 confirmed cases and 1,487 deaths across five eastern provinces. This outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain, declared on May 15th, is complicated by ongoing conflict in affected areas, hindering health responses. Health officials estimate a 45% case fatality rate and note that new infections continue to rise weekly. While clinical trials for a vaccine began in early July, they could take up to four months. Experts emphasize the need for public cooperation and continued efforts to contain the spread, which was detected late.

The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has killed over 1,500 people in eastern Congo as of Thursday, with cases reaching 3,442. This represents a 50% increase in about a week, indicating response efforts are being outpaced. The outbreak, declared May 15, is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Displacement due to conflict and illegal mining, coupled with attacks on health facilities and misinformation, are hindering contact tracing and response efforts, particularly in Ituri province. International partners temporarily withdrew from some areas following an attack, disrupting surveillance and supplies.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 1,309 deaths and 2,973 confirmed cases, marking the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic on record. This surge, a 40% increase in deaths in five days, is attributed to the rare Bundibugyo variant, which currently lacks approved vaccines or treatments. The epidemic is exacerbated by active hostilities and a shortage of public health resources. Scientists are developing an experimental vaccine, with the first dose administered to a volunteer. The outbreak's rapid progression, reaching 1,000 deaths in under 10 weeks, threatens to become the worst in history if not contained. Health workers are striking over unpaid wages and unsafe conditions, further hindering response efforts.