Kinshasa: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the largest in the country’s history, with 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths reported as of July 30, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has recorded a fatality rate of 44 per cent. It was declared on May 15, 2026, and has now surpassed the country’s previous largest outbreak between 2018 and 2020, when nearly 3,500 cases and about 2,300 deaths were recorded.
WHO said the current outbreak is intensifying, with sustained transmission and continued increases in both infections and fatalities. During the latest reporting week, authorities recorded 567 cases and 296 deaths, the highest weekly totals since the outbreak began.
The Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the #DRC is intensifying, with sustained transmission, rising cases and deaths, and expanding geographic spread.
This is now the largest #Ebola outbreak ever reported in the country.
As of 30 July 2026:
▶️3605 confirmed cases and 1587… pic.twitter.com/NdXIJ7uDGe— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 1, 2026
Health officials have warned that insecurity, population displacement and cross-border movement are making containment efforts increasingly difficult and raising the possibility of the virus spreading further.
The outbreak is centred in Ituri province in northeastern DR Congo, which borders Uganda and South Sudan. Cases have also been reported in North Kivu and South Kivu, where ongoing insecurity has complicated access for healthcare and emergency response teams.
The virus has also crossed international borders. Uganda has reported 20 cases linked to the outbreak, while one case has been detected in France. Two people diagnosed in DR Congo were subsequently treated in Germany.
There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment specifically for the Bundibugyo strain. However, efforts to develop vaccines are progressing. On July 30, WHO said the most promising vaccine candidate would be developed in Singapore, while a trial of another vaccine has begun in the United Kingdom.
Ebola spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated materials. The disease has caused around 15,000 deaths across Africa over the past five decades.
WHO warned that the combination of rapid transmission, insecurity and population movement remains a major challenge to bringing the outbreak under control.
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