Ebola outbreak in Africa surpasses 10,000 cases, mainly in DR Congo
Africa's latest Ebola outbreak has surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases, predominantly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with nearly 5,000 deaths since May, according to Congolese health authorities. The epidemic has also affected Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, complicating efforts to contain the virus across the continent. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, with no approved vaccines or treatments available, and has spread across multiple provinces in the DRC amid regional insecurity.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1)
Africa’s latest Ebola outbreak has passed 10,000 confirmed cases, the vast majority in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to Congolese health authorities as of October 28, 2026. The DRC has reported 10,060 infections and 4,887 deaths since the virus was first detected in May, marking the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history.
The epidemic has also been detected in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. Kenya recorded its first cases in early October, with nine cases and two deaths mostly linked to recent travel to the DRC. Nigeria confirmed one case involving a Swiss woman infected after a trip to Uganda; she was evacuated to Geneva for treatment.
The World Health Organization has warned that containing this outbreak is complex due to its spread across eastern, western, and central Africa. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which no approved vaccines or treatments currently exist.
The virus initially emerged in northeastern DRC’s Ituri province and has since spread across eight provinces and over 66 health zones, an area roughly twice the size of the UK. The affected regions include Ituri and North Kivu, where ongoing conflict and low trust in government complicate response efforts.
Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), highlighted the unprecedented geographic spread of the outbreak and the challenges it poses for tracking and containment. Genomic sequencing suggests links between cases in Kenya, Nigeria, and the DRC.