The Democratic Republic of Congo’s ongoing Ebola outbreak has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with the death toll reaching 2,325, according to the latest figures released by health authorities.
As of August 16, 2026, the outbreak had recorded 4,945 confirmed cases, meaning almost half of those confirmed to have contracted the virus have died. The latest death toll has surpassed the 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak, previously the country’s worst.
The current outbreak was officially declared on May 15, 2026, although health experts believe the virus had been circulating for several months before it was detected. It is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a relatively rare strain for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
The speed at which the outbreak has spread has alarmed health authorities. More than 2,000 people have died in less than three months, making it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak recorded so far, according to health officials and experts.
The outbreak has been particularly difficult to control because many affected communities are located in remote and conflict-affected parts of the country. Poor healthcare infrastructure, insecurity, delayed diagnosis and mistrust of health workers have all complicated efforts to identify cases and trace people who may have been exposed.
The Ituri province, where the outbreak originated, has been among the worst affected areas. The virus has also spread to other provinces, while neighbouring Uganda recorded cases after the disease crossed the border. Authorities have managed to limit wider transmission in Uganda, where 20 cases and two deaths were previously reported.
The high fatality rate has raised particular concern. The proportion of confirmed Ebola patients dying from the disease has risen from around 20 per cent in early June to about 46 per cent. Health experts say this does not necessarily mean the virus has become more deadly; instead, it points to problems such as late detection and patients reaching treatment centres too late.
Health authorities and international organisations are working to expand surveillance, testing and treatment capacity. Clinical trials involving potential vaccines and treatments are also underway, but these remain experimental and are not yet approved solutions for the Bundibugyo strain.
The outbreak has already become the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak globally, behind the devastating 2014–2016 West African epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people.
The rapid rise in deaths has therefore intensified calls for greater international support and faster intervention. Health experts warn that without stronger surveillance, early diagnosis and access to treatment, the outbreak could continue to expand.
For the Democratic Republic of Congo, the latest figures represent a grim milestone in its long battle with Ebola. What began as another outbreak has now overtaken the country’s previous record, putting enormous pressure on an already fragile healthcare system.
With 2,325 deaths and 4,945 confirmed cases, authorities are facing an urgent challenge: contain the virus before the current outbreak grows into an even larger regional and global health crisis.
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