Congo's fast-moving Ebola outbreak becomes country's worst with over 2,300 dead
The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing its deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, with over 2,300 deaths reported. Despite international aid and response efforts, the virus continues to spread rapidly due to regional instability, misinformation, and logistical challenges.
Why it matters
The scale and speed of this outbreak represent a significant global health crisis that tests the limits of international humanitarian response in conflict-prone areas.
Congo's fast-moving Ebola outbreak has now killed over 2,300 people and become the deadliest outbreak of the disease on record in the Central African nation.
The outbreak unfolding in one of Congo's most vulnerable regions is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever, with 4,945 cases including 2,325 deaths, according to government data released overnight into Monday (August 17, 2026).
This is Congo's 17th and largest Ebola outbreak. The toll eclipses that of the country's 2018-2020 outbreak when 2,299 deaths out of 3,481 cases were recorded.
The latest data shows 101 new cases and 33 deaths reported in the previous 24 hours. Over 1,000 people have recovered, while 730 remain in hospitals or isolation.
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