KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reports that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has documented 8,067 confirmed Ebola cases since the outbreak was first identified. As of September 26, the death toll stands at 3,901, resulting in a case fatality rate of approximately 48%. Authorities have confirmed cases across 63 health zones within seven of the country’s 26 provinces. This outbreak is now recognized as the largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic in the nation’s history.
The government officially announced the outbreak on May 15, attributing it to the Bundibugyo virus. It marks the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Bundibugyo virus is among the species known to cause severe illness in humans. According to the World Health Organization, there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targeting Bundibugyo virus disease.
Ituri remains the primary epicenter of the outbreak, although infections have spread to other regions. The affected provinces include Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut Uele, Bas Uele, and Sud Ubangi. WHO data indicates that by September 23, Ituri had reported cases in 28 of its 36 health zones, while North Kivu had cases across 16 of its 34 zones.
Case numbers decrease but transmission persists at high levels
Recent reports from the World Health Organization show a decline in new infections and fatalities. The agency states that incident cases have dropped by 20.3% over the past two 14-day periods, while deaths have decreased by 24.2% during the same timeframe. Despite this, transmission remains intense in parts of Ituri, especially in areas where local trends continue to worsen, according to health officials.
By September 26, health teams had recorded 2,070 recoveries as they maintained surveillance and treatment initiatives. Efforts included contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention measures, and community outreach in affected zones. Nonetheless, delays in case detection and prompt treatment continue to challenge response efforts. Community deaths are particularly concerning, as they often suggest that infected individuals did not access care early enough.
Current outbreak exceeds previous Ebola crises in Congo
The ongoing 2026 epidemic has surpassed the scale of Congo’s 2018 to 2020 Ebola outbreak, which reported 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. This current outbreak ranks as the second-largest Ebola epidemic globally, after the 2014 to 2016 West Africa crisis, which involved over 28,600 infections and more than 11,300 fatalities.
Health officials continue to track the disease’s spread, particularly since several affected provinces border international nations. Dungu health zone in Haut Uele borders South Sudan, while Sud Ubangi shares borders with the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo. Response teams remain focused on early detection, patient care, and infection control efforts. Despite recent declines in reported cases and deaths, the latest figures indicate that Ebola transmission persists across the country.