KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – Since the latest outbreak began, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has documented 8,067 confirmed Ebola cases. As of September 26, the death toll has reached 3,901, resulting in a case fatality rate of roughly 48%. Congolese health officials have reported cases 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 in the nation’s history.
The government announced the outbreak on May 15, attributing the spread to the Bundibugyo virus. It marks the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bundibugyo virus is a strain of Ebola known to cause severe illness in humans. According to the World Health Organization, no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targets Bundibugyo virus disease.
While Ituri remains the primary hotspot, cases have been reported in various 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 cases in 28 of its 36 health zones, whereas North Kivu had cases in 16 of its 34 zones.
Cases decrease but transmission remains high
Recent reports from the World Health Organization show a decline in new infections and fatalities. The organization reported a 20.3% drop in incident cases over the latest two 14-day periods. Deaths decreased by 24.2% during the same timeframe. Nevertheless, transmission levels remain high in certain parts of Ituri, with local trends worsening in some zones, according to health officials.
As of September 26, health teams had recorded 2,070 recoveries, continuing efforts in surveillance and treatment. Contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention, and community outreach efforts persist across affected regions. Challenges remain, including delays in case detection and prompt treatment, which contribute to community deaths—an indicator that some infected individuals may not be reaching care early enough.
Current outbreak eclipses previous Congo Ebola records
The 2026 Ebola epidemic has surpassed the previous outbreak from 2018 to 2020, which recorded 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. It is also the second-largest Ebola epidemic globally, after the 2014 to 2016 West Africa crisis, which involved over 28,600 infections and more than 11,300 fatalities.
Health authorities remain vigilant regarding 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 prioritizing early detection, patient management, and infection control. Despite recent declines in cases and deaths, official figures reveal that Ebola transmission persists across the country.