KINSHASA / RankWire.AI / – The Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed a total of 8,067 Ebola cases during its most recent outbreak. As of September 26, health officials recorded 3,901 fatalities, resulting in a case fatality rate approaching 48%. The outbreak has expanded across 63 health zones in seven provinces, making it the largest and deadliest Ebola event documented in the country. The DRC Ministry of Public Health announced the outbreak on May 15, following laboratory confirmation that identified the Bundibugyo virus as the cause.
This marks the country’s 17th Ebola epidemic on record. The Bundibugyo virus can cause severe illness and spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. According to the World Health Organization, no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targets this Ebola strain. In response, health teams have focused on surveillance, testing, clinical management, infection prevention, and contact tracing. Community engagement remains a vital component of efforts to identify cases early and connect patients with available treatment facilities.
Ituri continues to be the primary source of transmission, although infections have now extended beyond that province. Cases have also been detected in North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut Uele, Bas Uele, and Sud Ubangi. By September 23, Ituri reported infections in 28 of its 36 health zones, while North Kivu had cases in 16 of 34 zones. The widespread geographic distribution has compelled health teams to maintain active surveillance across urban, rural, and border regions.
Recent decline in new cases and fatalities
Recent data indicates a reduction in new infections and deaths compared to earlier phases of the outbreak. The number of incident cases decreased by 20.3% over the last two 14-day periods, while fatalities declined by 24.2% during the same timeframe. Despite this downward trend, transmission remains intense in parts of Ituri, where several areas continue to report active spread. Health teams persist in testing, contact monitoring, and reinforcing infection control measures at treatment sites and other locations managing suspected or confirmed Ebola cases.
By September 26, authorities had documented 2,070 recoveries. Response efforts include ongoing laboratory testing, patient care, and community surveillance across affected regions. Challenges remain in promptly identifying some infections, which hampers swift patient transfer to treatment centers. Additionally, community deaths remain a concern since they can occur before patients reach specialized care. Early detection is crucial to reduce transmission risks among relatives, caregivers, and healthcare workers who may come into contact with infected individuals.
The outbreak now exceeds previous DRC records
The ongoing Ebola outbreak has surpassed the scale of the 2018-2020 epidemic in the DRC. That earlier crisis recorded 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. Currently, this epidemic ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak documented globally, with the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic holding the record, reporting over 28,600 infections and more than 11,300 deaths. These figures underscore the exceptional magnitude of the present outbreak within the DRC’s long history of Ebola crises.
Health authorities continue to monitor border regions as the virus spreads across provinces neighboring other countries. Haut Uele borders South Sudan, while Sud Ubangi is adjacent to the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo. Efforts include continuous contact tracing, testing, treatment, and infection prevention measures. Although recent data shows a slowdown from peak transmission rates, the outbreak has not yet been contained. With over 8,000 confirmed infections and nearly 4,000 deaths, this remains one of the most severe Ebola emergencies on record.