DRC’s latest deadly Ebola outbreak | Explained
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the nation's history, surpassing 2,300 deaths. Containment efforts are severely hampered by ongoing rebel conflict, misinformation, and a lack of approved vaccines for the specific virus strain.
Why it matters
The escalation of a major viral outbreak in a conflict-prone region poses a significant threat to global public health security.
The story so far: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now become the deadliest in the country’s history as deaths cross 2,300 mark as of August 18, 2026.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the outbreak is on track to surpass the 2014-16 outbreak in West Africa, the deadliest on record with over 28,616 cases and 11,325 deaths. As cases and deaths mount, the strife-torn DRC is struggling to contain the spread of the deadly disease.
The country has reported over 2,325 deaths, exceeding the toll of 2,299 reported in the previous outbreak, according to the WHO. The fatality rate has increased to nearly 47%. The number of confirmed cases stood at 4,945, including the 101 new cases detected in the previous 24 hours. Around 1,040 people have recovered and while 730 are still hospitalised or in isolation.
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