KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – Since the onset of its latest outbreak, 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 documented cases in 63 health zones spanning 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, identifying the Bundibugyo virus as the causative agent. It marks the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Bundibugyo virus is one of the Ebola virus species known to cause severe illness in humans. According to the World Health Organization, there is no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targeting Bundibugyo virus disease.
While Ituri remains the primary hotspot, infections have spread to several other regions. Provinces affected 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, whereas North Kivu had cases across 16 of its 34 zones.
Transmission persists despite decreasing case numbers
Recent reports from the World Health Organization reveal a decline in new infections and fatalities. The organization noted a 20.3% decrease in incident cases over the latest two 14-day periods, with deaths dropping by 24.2% during the same timeframe. Nevertheless, the virus continues to spread actively in parts of Ituri, especially in areas where local trends remain concerning for health officials.
By September 26, authorities had recorded 2,070 recoveries as health teams maintained surveillance, treatment, contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention, and community outreach efforts. Challenges persist in promptly detecting cases and admitting patients to care, with delays hampering response efforts. The high number of community deaths remains a serious issue, often indicating that infected individuals did not receive treatment early enough.
The outbreak exceeds previous Congo Ebola records
This 2026 epidemic has overtaken the scale of the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak in the country, which concluded with 3,481 cases and 2,299 fatalities. Globally, it ranks as the second-largest Ebola epidemic ever documented, following the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak, which involved over 28,600 cases and more than 11,300 deaths.
Health officials continue to track the geographic spread of the outbreak, as several affected provinces are near international borders. 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, even as recent figures show that Ebola transmission persists despite a decline in reported cases and fatalities.