KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – As part of a broader health emergency, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported a total of 8,067 confirmed Ebola cases since the outbreak’s onset. The death toll has climbed to 3,901 as of September 26, resulting in a case fatality rate of approximately 48%. Authorities have identified cases across 63 health zones within seven of the country’s 26 provinces. Currently, this outbreak is recognized as the largest and most lethal Ebola epidemic ever recorded in the nation.
The government officially declared the outbreak on May 15, pinpointing Bundibugyo virus as the causative agent. It marks the 17th documented Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bundibugyo virus is among the Ebola virus strains known to cause severe illness in humans. According to the World Health Organization, no licensed vaccine or approved treatment currently exists specifically for Bundibugyo virus disease.
Ituri remains the primary hotspot of the epidemic, although infections have been detected in various other regions. The affected provinces include Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut Uele, Bas Uele, and Sud Ubangi. WHO data as of September 23 indicated that Ituri had reported cases in 28 of its 36 health zones, while North Kivu had recorded cases in 16 of its 34 zones.
Cases decrease but transmission persists at high levels
Recent reports from the World Health Organization show a decline in new infections and fatalities. The organization stated that incident cases dropped by 20.3% over the two most recent 14-day periods, with deaths decreasing by 24.2% during the same timeframe. Despite this progress, transmission remains intense in parts of Ituri, especially in areas where local trends continue to worsen, according to health officials.
By September 26, authorities had recorded 2,070 recoveries, as health teams maintain active surveillance and treatment initiatives. Efforts include contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention, and community outreach across affected regions. Challenges persist, including delays in case detection and prompt treatment, which contribute to community deaths—a sign that some infected individuals may not be reaching care early enough.
Current outbreak exceeds previous Ebola records in Congo
This 2026 outbreak has surpassed the scale of the Ebola emergency that occurred between 2018 and 2020, which recorded 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. It also ranks as the second-largest Ebola epidemic globally, following the 2014 to 2016 West Africa outbreak, which involved more than 28,600 infections and over 11,300 deaths.
Health officials continue to monitor the epidemic’s spread, especially since several affected provinces share borders with neighboring countries. Dungu health zone in Haut Uele borders South Sudan, while Sud Ubangi borders the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo. Response teams remain focused on early detection, patient care, and infection control. Despite some recent declines in reported cases and fatalities, the latest national data indicates that Ebola transmission persists.