DR Congo Ebola epidemic becomes world’s second largest outbreak | Ebola News
Ebola Outbreak in DRC Declared Fastest-Spreading on Record
Published July 31, 2026
Officials have confirmed that more than 3,500 people have been infected with the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marking the second-largest outbreak in recorded history. The DRC Ministry of Communication and Media reported that as of Friday, confirmed cases have reached 3,532, surpassing the previous record of approximately 3,470 cases during the outbreak from August 2018 to June 2020.
Carl Skau, acting head of the United Nations World Food Programme, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “It’s the fastest spreading Ebola epidemic that we have ever seen. The world needs to pay much more attention.”
The current outbreak has resulted in 1,556 fatalities, leading to a case fatality rate of 44.1%, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health. Currently, 807 patients remain in isolation or undergoing treatment, while 626 individuals have recovered.
The outbreak, which began less than three months ago, has claimed five times as many lives as previous outbreaks at a similar stage, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). It is noteworthy that the largest Ebola outbreak occurred from 2014 to 2016 in West Africa, with 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths reported across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, as documented by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This latest DRC outbreak is attributed to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which currently lacks any approved vaccine or treatment. Medical teams are facing significant challenges, including security concerns and attacks on healthcare facilities in the eastern DRC, where numerous armed groups operate. Additionally, cuts in foreign aid have strained available resources.
Community trust in authorities remains low, hindering efforts to control the outbreak. Angele Gapio, head of emergencies for the Caritas charity in Bunia, cited failures in awareness campaigns and expressed concern over the exhaustion of frontline responders. “The disease has now settled in the community,” she stated. “People continue to seek treatment from traditional healers, and the chain of transmission continues.”
The WHO has warned that the actual size of the outbreak could be up to four times greater than reported figures. In June, the Africa CDC estimated that $1.4 billion would be needed to contain the outbreak, tripling earlier projections.
The virus has affected five provinces in the DRC: Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tshopo.
