The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the largest in the nation's history, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As of July 30, the outbreak had recorded 3,605 confirmed cases, resulting in 1,587 deaths, a fatality rate of 44%. This current outbreak is attributed to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, declared on May 15, 2026. It surpasses the previous largest outbreak, which occurred between 2018 and 2020 and saw nearly 3,500 cases with almost 2,300 fatalities.
There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, though vaccines are under development in the UK and Singapore. Ebola, a disease transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, has caused an estimated 15,000 deaths across Africa over the past 50 years.
The WHO has described the current outbreak as "intensifying, with sustained transmission and continued increases in reported cases and deaths." In the past week alone, the outbreak reached its highest weekly total, with 567 cases and 296 deaths, underscoring "the exceptional pace of transmission."
Factors such as insecurity, population displacement, and cross-border movement are hindering response efforts and increasing the risk of further spread. The epicenter of the outbreak is the Ituri province in the northeast, bordering South Sudan and Uganda. However, it has also spread to the North and South Kivu provinces, regions where large areas are controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group. The WHO noted that the convergence of these challenges complicates response operations and heightens the potential for wider geographical dissemination.