KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – The Democratic Republic of the Congo has identified a total of 8,067 Ebola infections in its latest outbreak, with health authorities reporting 3,901 fatalities as of September 26, which results in a case fatality rate close to 48%. This outbreak has impacted 63 health zones across seven provinces, making it the largest and deadliest Ebola event in the country’s history. The DRC Ministry of Public Health announced the outbreak on May 15, after laboratory analysis confirmed the Bundibugyo virus as the causative agent.
This marks the 17th recorded Ebola epidemic in the country, with the Bundibugyo virus known to cause severe illness and to spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. According to the World Health Organization, there is no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targeting this Ebola strain. Response efforts have primarily focused on surveillance, testing, clinical management, infection prevention, and contact tracing. Community engagement remains a vital component of the strategy, as authorities strive to detect cases early and connect patients with available treatment facilities.
While Ituri continues to serve as the primary hub of transmission, the infection has spread beyond that province, with cases emerging in North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut Uele, Bas Uele, and Sud Ubangi. By September 23, Ituri had reported infections in 28 of its 36 health zones, while North Kivu had confirmed cases in 16 of its 34 zones. The widespread geographic distribution has compelled health teams to maintain vigilant surveillance across urban, rural, and border regions.
Recent decline in new cases from peak levels
Recent reports indicate a decrease in new infections and fatalities compared to earlier stages of the outbreak, with incident cases dropping by 20.3% over the last two 14-day periods and deaths decreasing by 24.2% during the same timeframe. Despite this progress, transmission remains intense in parts of Ituri, where several areas continue to report ongoing spread. Health teams are actively testing contacts and monitoring patients while also reinforcing infection control measures at treatment centers and other locations managing suspected or confirmed Ebola cases.
By September 26, authorities had recorded 2,070 recoveries, with response teams continuing laboratory testing, patient care, and community surveillance across affected provinces. Challenges remain in promptly identifying infections, which hampers efforts to quickly admit patients into treatment programs. Additionally, community deaths continue to be a concern, as some occur before patients reach specialized care. Early detection remains essential to minimize exposure risks for relatives, caregivers, and healthcare workers who may come into contact with infected individuals.
The outbreak surpasses previous DRC Ebola records
This 2026 outbreak has exceeded the scale of the Ebola epidemic that affected the country from 2018 to 2020, which recorded a total of 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. Currently, it ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak documented globally, with the 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic remaining the largest, involving over 28,600 reported infections and more than 11,300 deaths. This comparison underscores the exceptional magnitude of the ongoing crisis within 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 shares boundaries with the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo. Efforts remain focused on contact tracing, testing, treatment, and infection control, with recent data showing that although transmission has slowed from its recent peaks, it has not yet ceased entirely. With over 8,000 confirmed cases and nearly 4,000 deaths, this outbreak remains one of the most severe Ebola emergencies recorded to date.