Congo Ebola outbreak ‘global emergency’ as infections pass 5,000: WHO
The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a global health emergency as cases exceed 5,000. Officials warn that the epidemic is spreading rapidly and is currently the deadliest in the country's history.
Why it matters
The lack of an approved vaccine for this specific strain and the challenges of operating in conflict zones make this a critical international health crisis.
Officials warn that they are continuing to identify new chains of transmission that need to be broken to stop the spread.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info The outbreak is now the country's deadliest, with more than 2,320 people having died [File: AFP] By Al Jazeera Staff , AFP and Reuters Published On 18 Aug 2026 18 Aug 2026 The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned, saying that the number of cases in the country has passed 5,000.
Following an emergency meeting on Tuesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on the international community to assist in efforts to contain the outbreak, which has killed more than 2,320 people.
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