DR Congo reports more than 9,000 Ebola cases and 4,000 deaths
The Democratic Republic of Congo's 17th and worst Ebola outbreak has surpassed 9,000 cases and 4,000 deaths, spreading across seven provinces since May 2026. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, faces challenges including armed conflict, limited healthcare, and community distrust. A vaccine trial is planned, but no approved vaccine exists for this strain.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-10-13
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is grappling with its worst-ever Ebola outbreak, which has now surpassed 9,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths, health authorities reported on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
The outbreak, declared in mid-May 2026 but believed to have started weeks or months earlier, began in Ituri province in northeastern DRC. It has since spread to seven provinces across the north and east of the country.
Response efforts are complicated by limited healthcare infrastructure, ongoing armed conflicts, and significant distrust from local communities toward medical and humanitarian workers.
This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. The World Health Organization announced plans to launch a clinical trial for a vaccine in the DRC this month.
Meanwhile, frontline volunteers have received doses of the Ervebo vaccine, effective against the Zaire strain, but not the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current outbreak.