Ebola outbreak in DR Congo worsens, long transmission warned
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to a sixth province, with over 4,700 confirmed cases and 2,200 deaths. Health authorities are struggling with community-based transmission and gaps in contact tracing.
Why it matters
The worsening epidemic highlights significant public health challenges in the region and the difficulty of containing infectious diseases in community settings.
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Gédéon Banga Ngbape (L), an Ebola surveillance officer, does contact tracing in Nizi, Ituri Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, August 14, 2026. /CFP
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has spread to a sixth province, with confirmed cases rising to 4,727 and deaths to 2,214, according to the latest report released on Friday by the DRC's health authorities.
The report said the outbreak has affected 55 health zones across Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo provinces, with Ituri remaining the epicenter.
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