Ebola Death Toll in DR Congo Surpasses 3,000

World 01:51 PM - 2026-09-02

DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Becomes Deadliest in Country’s History.

The death toll from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 3,000, according to government figures released on Wednesday, as the country’s deadliest outbreak continues to spread in the north-east.

The number of confirmed cases has reached 6,186, while 3,007 people have died, according to the latest official figures.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has become the largest and deadliest in the country’s history, surpassing the outbreak recorded between 2018 and 2020.

It is also the world’s second-largest Ebola epidemic, after the 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa, which infected more than 28,600 people and claimed over 11,000 lives in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Authorities officially declared the current outbreak in Ituri province on 15 May, although health officials and experts believe infections may have begun as early as January. Since then, the virus has spread to six areas despite containment efforts by the Congolese authorities, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and humanitarian organisations.

Health experts say weak surveillance systems, insecurity and resistance within some communities have hindered the early detection and treatment of cases.
The WHO estimates that around 60% of Ebola deaths occur outside treatment centres, underscoring the difficulties of identifying infections before the virus spreads further.

There are currently no vaccines or treatments specifically approved for the Bundibugyo strain, although several candidates remain under development.

Congolese authorities have recently begun vaccinating frontline healthcare workers with Merck’s Ervebo vaccine, which is licensed for protection against the Zaire strain. Health officials hope it may also provide some protection against the Bundibugyo strain.


PUKMEDIA