KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – Since the onset of its latest Ebola outbreak, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has documented a total of 8,067 confirmed Ebola cases. As of September 26, the death toll stood at 3,901, resulting in an approximate case fatality rate of 48%. Health officials in Congo have identified cases spread across 63 health zones within seven of the country’s 26 provinces. This outbreak is now recognized as the largest and most lethal Ebola epidemic ever recorded in the nation.
The government officially 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, there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment targeting Bundibugyo virus disease specifically.
While Ituri remains the epicenter of the outbreak, 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. Data from WHO indicated that by September 23, Ituri had reported cases in 28 out of its 36 health zones, whereas North Kivu had cases in 16 of its 34 zones.
Transmission persists despite decreasing case numbers
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, with deaths dropping by 24.2% during the same timeframe. Nonetheless, transmission remains high in some parts of Ituri, particularly where local trends continue to worsen, and health officials are actively monitoring these areas.
By September 26, authorities had recorded 2,070 recoveries, with health teams maintaining surveillance and treatment activities. Efforts included contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention measures, and community outreach across the affected zones. Challenges persist in promptly detecting cases and ensuring patients receive timely treatment. The occurrence of community deaths continues to be a serious concern, as it may indicate that infected individuals did not access care early enough.
The outbreak has exceeded previous Ebola crises in Congo
This 2026 outbreak has surpassed the scale of Congo’s 2018-2020 Ebola epidemic, which recorded a total of 3,481 cases and 2,299 fatalities. Presently, it ranks as the second-largest Ebola epidemic worldwide. The largest remains the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which involved over 28,600 infections and more than 11,300 deaths.
Health officials are closely observing the outbreak’s spread, especially since several affected provinces are near international borders. 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 continue their focus on early detection, patient care, and infection control. Despite a recent decline in reported cases and deaths, the latest national data indicates that Ebola transmission persists.