KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – The Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed 8,067 Ebola cases in its latest outbreak. Health authorities recorded 3,901 deaths through September 26, putting the fatality rate near 48%. The outbreak has reached 63 health zones across seven provinces. It has become the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded in the country. The DRC Ministry of Public Health declared the outbreak on May 15 after laboratory testing identified Bundibugyo virus as the cause.
The outbreak marks the country’s 17th recorded Ebola epidemic. Bundibugyo virus can cause severe disease and spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. The World Health Organization says no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targets this Ebola species. Health teams have relied on surveillance, testing, clinical care, infection control and contact tracing. Community outreach has also remained a central part of the response as authorities work to identify infections early and connect patients with treatment centers.
Ituri remains the main center of transmission, though infections have spread well beyond that province. Cases have also appeared in North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut Uele, Bas Uele and Sud Ubangi. By September 23, Ituri had reported infections in 28 of its 36 health zones. North Kivu had recorded cases in 16 of its 34 health zones. The wide geographic reach has required health teams to maintain surveillance across urban, rural and border areas.
New infections decline from recent highs
Recent reporting shows fewer new infections and deaths compared with earlier periods of the outbreak. Incident cases fell 20.3% across the two most recent 14 day periods. Deaths dropped 24.2% over the same comparison. Transmission nevertheless remained high in parts of Ituri, where several areas continued to report active spread. Health teams have kept testing and monitoring contacts while strengthening infection prevention measures at treatment facilities and other locations handling suspected or confirmed Ebola patients.
Authorities had recorded 2,070 recoveries by September 26. Response teams have continued laboratory testing, patient care and community monitoring across affected provinces. Delays in finding some infections have complicated efforts to move patients into treatment quickly. Community deaths have also remained a concern because they can occur before patients reach specialized care. Early detection remains important for reducing exposure among relatives, caregivers and health workers who may come into contact with infected people.
Outbreak exceeds previous DRC record
The 2026 outbreak has surpassed the scale of the country’s 2018 to 2020 Ebola epidemic. That earlier outbreak recorded 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths in its final totals. The current epidemic also ranks as the second largest Ebola outbreak documented worldwide. The 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic remains the largest, with more than 28,600 reported infections and over 11,300 deaths. The comparison highlights the exceptional size of the current outbreak within the DRC’s long history of Ebola emergencies.
Health officials continue to watch border areas as the outbreak spans provinces near neighboring countries. Haut Uele includes health zones close to South Sudan, while Sud Ubangi borders the Central African Republic and Republic of the Congo. Monitoring continues alongside contact tracing, testing, treatment and infection control. The latest figures show that transmission has slowed from recent peaks but has not ended. More than 8,000 confirmed infections and nearly 4,000 deaths make the outbreak one of the most severe Ebola emergencies on record.
