KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has resulted in 1,916 fatalities and 4,209 confirmed infections, according to official figures updated through August 7. This marks an increase of 29 deaths from the previous report of 1,887. Health officials have also reported 595 individuals under care in isolation, while another 828 have recovered from the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.
The epidemic continues to be centered in Ituri, with 3,636 confirmed cases and 1,551 deaths. North Kivu has reported 470 cases and 315 deaths. Haut Uele has documented 91 cases and 44 deaths, Tshopo has nine cases and five deaths, and South Kivu has recorded three cases and one death. Overall, the outbreak has impacted 53 of the 140 health zones across the five affected provinces.
The most recent daily update recorded 89 new confirmed cases and 21 deaths, contributing to the national totals. Ituri accounted for 73 of these new infections. North Kivu reported 12, while Haut Uele saw four. Officials stated that 83.4% of identified contacts are under follow-up across the affected regions. Health teams continue reviewing and standardizing case and mortality data as surveillance records are regularly updated.
Bundibugyo Virus Outbreak Spreads in Eastern Regions
The Democratic Republic of the Congo confirmed the outbreak in May after laboratory tests identified Bundibugyo virus. The World Health Organization declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. The virus can trigger symptoms such as fever, weakness, body pain, vomiting, and other severe health issues. Some patients also experience bleeding. This epidemic marks the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus’s first identification in 1976.
The Congolese Ministry of Health has initiated response efforts focusing on surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, and clinical treatment. Measures include infection control protocols and safe burial practices to curb transmission. The response efforts target communities that face insecurity and high population movements, especially in parts of eastern Congo. Medical teams are actively monitoring contacts and investigating suspected cases across affected zones and major travel corridors.
No Approved Vaccine for Bundibugyo Virus
In contrast to the Zaire strain of Ebola, Bundibugyo virus currently lacks a licensed vaccine or specifically approved treatment. Medical management is mainly supportive, involving hydration, symptom control, and close clinical observation. Ongoing research is evaluating potential vaccines and investigational therapies. Surveillance efforts outside Congo have also detected infections; by late July, Uganda had reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with no new confirmed cases after June 21.
These latest figures make the 2026 outbreak the most extensive on record caused by Bundibugyo virus. Transmission remains heavily concentrated in DR Congo, particularly in Ituri and North Kivu. Despite expanded efforts in surveillance, isolation, and contact monitoring across affected health zones, the rising numbers of cases and deaths persist. Authorities continue maintaining laboratory testing, case detection, patient management, and infection prevention protocols while updating the national statistics as new data are collected.