Ebola Epidemic Escalates in the DRC: Over 3.8 Thousand Infected and 1.7 Thousand Victims

The WHO reports that the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is continuously escalating, reaching over 3.8 thousand cases and 1.7 thousand deaths by early August.

Escalation of the Epidemic in the DRC

The Ebola epidemic, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May, continues to escalate, according to the WHO. At the beginning of August, authorities recorded over 3.8 thousand cases and 1.7 thousand deaths.

The Ebola epidemic in the DRC is not slowing down its pace.

Initially, the spread of the epidemic occurred in five health zones of the DRC within the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. Now it covers 49 zones located across five provinces. Ituri remains the province most affected by the epidemic, accounting for 88 percent of all confirmed cases and 82.6 percent of reported deaths nationwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this is currently the largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Growing Geographic Spread and Humanitarian Crisis

The continuous increase in the number of cases, expanding geographic reach, and consistently high mortality underscore the rapidly changing nature of this public health threat, stated the WHO.

The outbreak is taking place in a complex humanitarian environment affected by conflicts, characterized by population displacements, high population mobility, and limited access to basic services, including healthcare, clean water, food, shelter, and protection. These conditions increase the risk of disease transmission, including in overcrowded internally displaced person (IDP) centers.

The epidemic is unfortunately still expanding, exceeding response capacities, told WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic to journalists in Geneva, as quoted by Euronews. As he pointed out, greater financial support is needed, as well as additional resources to strengthen all elements of the response. In doing so, he mentioned the capacities of treatment centers, field investigation teams, safe burial crews, and community-level workers.

WHO: Current Epidemiological Situation in Affected Countries

Case Statistics and Spread to Neighboring Regions

Since the beginning of the epidemic outbreak, 3,823 confirmed cases of infection, 275 suspected cases, 1 probable infection, 1,709 victims due to virus infection, and one probable victim have been reported. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is the epicenter and the country most affected by the epidemic, 3,802 cases of Ebola virus infection and 1,707 deaths have been confirmed so far. Currently, there are also about 275 suspected cases of infection. 727 people have successfully recovered. At this moment, the mortality rate is 45 percent.

The disease outbreak has also spread to neighboring Uganda. According to WHO data, the number of people with confirmed infection in this country is 20. There have also been two confirmed deaths. Authorities also report one possible case of infection and one probable death as a result of the virus. 18 people have recovered.

As a result of travel, one confirmed case was localized in France. However, the patient, quickly admitted to the hospital, recovered and was discharged from the facility after less than two weeks of treatment and subsequent negative PCR test results.

Discovery of the Bundibugyo Virus

The first signals of a possible epidemic appeared on May 5, 2026. The WHO then received an alert concerning an unknown disease with a high mortality rate reported in the Mongbwalu Health Zone in Ituri province. Within four days, at least 4 healthcare workers died. After a WHO rapid response team investigated the Mongbwalu and Rwampara Health Zones, it was confirmed on May 15, 2026, that the investigated disease was caused by the Bundibugyo virus (BVD).

What is the Bundibugyo virus?

The Bundibugyo virus is one of the strains of the Ebola disease causing severe hemorrhagic fever. BVD is transmitted to humans through close contact with the blood or secretions of infected wild animals (e.g., bats, monkeys, and apes). Subsequently, it can begin to spread through human-to-human contact.

The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days. Until symptoms appear, individuals are not infectious. Symptoms usually appear suddenly, including:

Other possible symptoms include

In two previous Ebola outbreaks reported in Uganda and the DRC, average mortality rates ranged from 30 to 50 percent. The last BVD outbreak was reported on August 17, 2021, by the DRC Ministry of Health in Orientale Province. A total of 59 cases (38 confirmed and 21 probable) were reported at that time, including 34 deaths.

Treatment and Challenges

It is clinically difficult to distinguish Ebola disease from other infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, dysentery, meningitis, and other viral hemorrhagic fevers because symptoms in the early stage of the disease are similar.

Unlike Zaire ebolavirus disease, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment against Bundibugyo virus disease. Research and development activities are underway to coordinate work on potential medical countermeasures against the epidemic.