KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – Since the onset of its latest outbreak, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed 8,067 cases of Ebola. As of September 26, the death toll reached 3,901, resulting in a case fatality rate of approximately 48%. The virus has been detected in 63 health zones across seven of the country’s 26 provinces. This outbreak is now the largest and most lethal Ebola epidemic ever recorded in the nation.
The government announced the outbreak on May 15, after confirming the Bundibugyo virus as the cause. It marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Bundibugyo virus is a strain known to cause severe illness in humans. According to the World Health Organization, no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targets Bundibugyo virus disease.
Ituri remains the primary focus of the outbreak, though cases have appeared in several other regions. Provinces impacted include Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut Uele, Bas Uele, and Sud Ubangi. Data from WHO shows Ituri reported cases in 28 of its 36 health zones by September 23. North Kivu had cases in 16 of its 34 zones.
Cases decrease but transmission continues at high levels
Recent reports from the World Health Organization indicate a decline in new infections and deaths. Incident cases dropped 20.3% over the two latest 14-day periods. Deaths decreased by 24.2% in the same timeframe. Despite this, transmission remains intense in parts of Ituri, including areas where health officials observe worsening local trends.
By September 26, authorities had recorded 2,070 recoveries. Efforts in surveillance and treatment are ongoing. Contact tracing, lab testing, infection prevention, and community outreach continue in affected zones. Challenges remain, including delays in case detection and treatment. Community deaths are still a concern, often signaling that infected individuals did not access care early enough.
Current outbreak exceeds previous Congo Ebola records
The 2026 Ebola epidemic has surpassed the scale of the 2018-2020 outbreak. That earlier crisis resulted in 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. The current outbreak is the second largest Ebola epidemic globally. The 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak remains the largest, with over 28,600 infections and more than 11,300 deaths.
Health officials continue monitoring the geographic spread. Several affected provinces border international countries. Dungu health zone in Haut Uele borders South Sudan. Sud Ubangi borders the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo. Response teams prioritize early detection, patient care, and infection prevention. Despite recent declines in cases and deaths, transmission persists according to the latest national data.