Bunia, en.SERU.co.id – Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have risen to more than 4,200, with deaths exceeding 1,900. Health authorities say the outbreak is the largest ever recorded in the country and the second largest worldwide.
Government figures released in early August 2026 put confirmed cases at roughly 4,120 to 4,290, with deaths ranging from 1,887 to 1,916. The case fatality rate stands near 45 to 46 percent. Ituri province in the northeast accounts for about 87 to 88 percent of all infections. Cases have also appeared in North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé and Tshopo.
The outbreak was formally declared on 15 May 2026. Genetic sequencing later showed the virus had already been circulating since February. Early cases were often mistaken for malaria or typhoid.
“We are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us,” said Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, during a press conference in Bunia on 10 August. He noted that 60 to 70 percent of deaths still occur in communities rather than treatment centers.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeated similar concerns. In early August he stated that the outbreak is outpacing the response and that new cases have doubled in some hotspots within a single week. He called for faster scaling of surveillance, care and community engagement.
Community Transmission Remains the Main Challenge
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya pointed to the same pattern. More than 60 percent of new cases fall outside known contact lists. Conflict, displacement and limited access to some areas continue to slow the response.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there is currently no fully approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus. WHO experts have recommended clinical trials of the existing Ervebo vaccine to test possible cross-protection. Africa CDC is also reviewing limited data suggesting lower mortality among people previously vaccinated against the Zaire virus.
Uganda reported 20 linked cases earlier in the outbreak. The last patient was discharged in mid-June, and the country declared the outbreak over at the end of July.
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Response teams from the Congolese government, WHO, Africa CDC and partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières have expanded laboratory capacity, treatment beds and contact tracing. Safe burial practices have also improved. Officials stress that progress still depends on better access in insecure zones and stronger community trust.
The 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic remains the largest on record, with about 28,600 cases and more than 11,300 deaths. The current Congo outbreak has already surpassed the 2018–2020 Kivu epidemic in total cases and continues to place heavy pressure on the response system.
Health agencies say the situation requires sustained resources and closer work with local communities to break remaining chains of transmission.
