KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – Since the outbreak’s onset, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed a total of 8,067 Ebola cases. As of September 26, the death toll stands at 3,901, resulting in a case fatality rate of approximately 48%. Authorities have reported cases across 63 health zones within seven of the country’s 26 provinces. This outbreak has become both the largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic in the nation’s history.
The government officially declared the outbreak on May 15, identifying the Bundibugyo virus as the responsible pathogen. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Bundibugyo virus is among the Ebola virus 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 epicenter of the epidemic, 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, while North Kivu had cases in 16 of its 34 zones.
Transmission persists despite a decline in new cases
Recent reports from the World Health Organization show a decrease in new infections and fatalities. The organization noted a 20.3% drop in incident cases over the last two 14-day periods, with a 24.2% reduction in deaths during the same timeframe. Nonetheless, transmission remains high 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. Efforts such as surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention, and community outreach are ongoing in affected zones. Challenges persist in rapid case detection and prompt treatment access, which are critical because delays can lead to community deaths, often an indicator that infected individuals did not receive care early enough.
Current outbreak exceeds previous Ebola crisis in Congo
The 2026 Ebola outbreak has surpassed the scale of the previous epidemic from 2018 to 2020, which recorded 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. It is also the second-largest Ebola epidemic worldwide, with the 2014 to 2016 West Africa outbreak remaining the largest, involving over 28,600 infections and more than 11,300 fatalities.
Health officials continue to monitor the geographic spread of the outbreak, 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 remain focused on early detection, patient management, and infection control measures. Despite a recent decline in cases and deaths, the latest national data indicates that Ebola transmission persists.