DR Congo Ebola Death Toll Surpasses 1,750 As WHO Calls For Stronger Response

DR Congo's Ebola outbreak has killed more than 1,750 people and infected nearly 3,900, making it the world's second-largest Ebola epidemic. Health authorities and international partners are expanding treatment centres and strengthening contact tracing as research suggests the outbreak may have begun months before it was officially detected. Officials warn that without greater international support, insecurity and weak healthcare systems could allow the virus to spread further.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have called for an intensified response to the country's worsening Ebola outbreak after the death toll climbed above 1,750, making it the second-largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded.
According to the latest official figures released on Wednesday, the outbreak has infected 3,874 people, resulting in 1,751 deaths, while 717 patients remain in treatment or isolation and 749 people have recovered.
The current outbreak, which was officially declared in May 2026, has a case fatality rate of 45.1 percent.

CONTACT TRACING REMAINS CRITICAL

DR Congo's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre warned that continued population movement poses a major risk to containing the virus.
Authorities have therefore called for stronger contact tracing, improved surveillance and closer coordination between health agencies to prevent further transmission.
More than 17,000 people identified as potential contacts are currently under monitoring.
The outbreak has spread across five provinces—Ituri, Haut-Uele, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo—with Ituri remaining the epicentre of infections caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE STEPS UP

Officials from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) visited Ituri this week to assess response efforts and coordinate support.
The delegation officially opened the Rwangole Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia, a facility expected to improve access to treatment and help reduce community transmission.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Mohamed Janabi warned that the current response remains inadequate compared with the speed at which the virus is spreading.
He urged governments and international partners to provide additional funding, personnel and medical supplies to strengthen containment efforts.

OUTBREAK MAY HAVE STARTED MONTHS EARLIER

New scientific research published in the journal Science suggests the outbreak may actually have begun in January 2026, several months before it was officially detected.
Researchers believe the virus first emerged in a remote mining community in Ituri Province before spreading undetected through surrounding areas.
The findings have renewed concerns about delayed outbreak detection in remote regions where access to healthcare remains limited.

DR CONGO HAS FACED REPEATED EBOLA OUTBREAKS

DR Congo has experienced more Ebola outbreaks than any other country since the virus was first identified near the Ebola River in 1976.
The country's most devastating epidemic occurred between 2018 and 2020, when more than 3,400 infections and over 2,200 deaths were recorded in eastern DR Congo despite the availability of vaccines.
Subsequent outbreaks in Equateur and North Kivu demonstrated the country's continued vulnerability, particularly in conflict-affected areas where insecurity often hampers vaccination campaigns and contact tracing.

CHALLENGES REMAIN

Health experts say insecurity, displacement, weak healthcare infrastructure and difficult terrain continue to complicate efforts to contain Ebola.
Officials warn that unless surveillance, vaccination and community engagement are significantly expanded, the outbreak could continue spreading to additional provinces and neighbouring countries.
The WHO says rapid identification of new cases, effective isolation and sustained international support remain essential to preventing the epidemic from escalating further.