KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – Since the start of its most recent outbreak, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has documented a total of 8,067 confirmed Ebola cases. As of September 26, the death toll stands at 3,901, resulting in a case fatality rate of roughly 48%. Health officials have reported cases across 63 health zones in seven of the nation’s 26 provinces. This outbreak is now recognized as the largest and most lethal Ebola epidemic in the country’s history.
The government declared the outbreak on May 15, identifying 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 currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targeting Bundibugyo virus disease.
While Ituri remains the primary focus of the outbreak, infections have also been reported in several 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 reported cases in 28 of its 36 health zones, whereas North Kivu had cases in 16 of its 34 zones.
Cases decrease but transmission persists at high levels
Recent reports show a decline in new infections and fatalities, according to the World Health Organization. The organization reported a 20.3% reduction in incident cases over the most recent two 14-day periods. Deaths have also decreased by 24.2% during this timeframe. Nonetheless, transmission remains intense in parts of Ituri, especially in zones where local trends are worsening, according to health officials.
As of September 26, authorities had recorded 2,070 recoveries, with health teams continuing surveillance and treatment efforts. Efforts include contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention measures, and community outreach in affected areas. Challenges persist in promptly detecting cases and ensuring rapid treatment, with delays sometimes hindering patient care. Community deaths remain a major concern, often indicating that infected individuals did not reach healthcare facilities early enough.
Current outbreak exceeds previous Congo Ebola records
The 2026 epidemic has surpassed the scale of the 2018 to 2020 Ebola outbreak in the country, which recorded 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. It is also the second-largest Ebola epidemic worldwide, following the 2014 to 2016 West Africa outbreak that resulted in over 28,600 infections and more than 11,300 fatalities.
Health officials continue to monitor the geographic spread of the outbreak, especially since several affected provinces share borders with neighboring countries. 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, providing care to patients, and infection control. Despite recent declines in reported cases and fatalities, the latest national figures indicate that Ebola transmission persists in the region.