- The World Health Organization has officially declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo the largest in the country’s history, surpassing the previous record set between 2018 and 2020.
- As of late July 2026, the outbreak has recorded 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths, reflecting a high fatality rate of approximately 44 percent.
- Active transmission of the Bundibugyo virus strain continues to escalate in Ituri province and surrounding areas, hampered by regional insecurity, population displacement, and cross-border movements.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the largest ever recorded in the country’s history.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the global health agency described the ongoing crisis as “intensifying” with sustained transmission, rising fatality numbers, and an expanding geographical spread across multiple provinces.
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Data released by public health authorities confirmed that as of July 30, 2026, the DRC has documented 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths, translating to a crude case fatality rate of 44 percent.
Health experts noted that the epidemic has officially eclipsed the previous largest outbreak recorded in the nation between 2018 and 2020, which resulted in nearly 3,500 total cases and approximately 2,300 deaths.
The current wave, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, was officially declared in mid-May 2026. Over the past week alone, the response recorded its highest single-week surge, with 567 new cases and 296 deaths.
“Factors like insecurity, population displacement, and cross-border movement continue to hamper response efforts and increase the risk of further spread,” the WHO stated, calling for a massive operational scale-up from international partners.
The epicentre of the health crisis remains in Ituri province in northeastern DRC, bordering South Sudan and Uganda, accounting for the vast majority of cases and deaths.
In neighboring Uganda, where an imported cluster was identified, health authorities declared an end to their localized outbreak on July 28 after completing 42 days without a new locally transmitted case.
However, global health officials maintain that Uganda and surrounding border zones remain at high risk of re-infection due to continuous population movements across the regional borders.
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