KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – Since the start of its latest outbreak, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed a total of 8,067 Ebola cases. The death toll has risen to 3,901 as of September 26, resulting in a case fatality rate of approximately 48%. Health officials in Congo have identified cases in 63 health zones spread across seven of the country’s 26 provinces. This outbreak is now recognized as the largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic ever recorded within the nation.
The government announced the outbreak on May 15, attributing it to the Bundibugyo virus. It marks the 17th documented Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Bundibugyo virus is a strain known to cause severe illness in humans. According to the World Health Organization, no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targets Bundibugyo virus disease.
Ituri continues to be the epicenter of the outbreak, although infections have been reported in several other regions. The affected provinces include Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut Uele, Bas Uele, and Sud Ubangi. WHO data indicated that by September 23, Ituri had reported cases in 28 of its 36 health zones. North Kivu had cases in 16 of its 34 zones.
Cases are decreasing, but transmission remains intense
Recent reports from the World Health Organization show a decline in new infections and fatalities. The organization reported a 20.3% decrease in incident cases over the last two 14-day periods. Deaths declined by 24.2% during the same timeframe. Despite this progress, transmission levels are still high in parts of Ituri, including areas where health officials observe worsening local trends.
By September 26, health teams had documented 2,070 recoveries. Efforts in surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention, and community outreach continue across affected zones. However, delays in case detection and treatment initiation remain problematic. Community deaths are a significant concern, as they suggest some infected individuals may not be reaching care early enough.
The outbreak has overtaken previous Congo Ebola records
This 2026 Ebola epidemic has exceeded the scale of the 2018 to 2020 outbreak in the country, which ended with 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. The current crisis is also the second-largest Ebola epidemic globally. The largest remains the 2014 to 2016 West Africa outbreak, which involved more than 28,600 infections and over 11,300 deaths.
Health authorities continue to track the epidemic’s spread, especially since several affected provinces border neighboring countries. 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 are prioritizing early detection, patient care, and infection control. Despite a recent decline in reported cases and deaths, the latest national data indicate that Ebola transmission persists.