Ebola treatment centre was burned down as death toll in Congo passes 4,000
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed 4,000 deaths, marking it as the fastest-growing in history. Efforts to contain the virus are being severely hindered by strikes from health workers and the destruction of a key transit center by soldiers.
Why it matters
The loss of critical medical infrastructure and the ongoing instability in the region threaten to accelerate the spread of a deadly, untreatable virus.
Congo's Ebola outbreak has recorded more than 4,000 deaths , authorities said, as they struggle to contain the spread of the virus.
The latest figures released by the Health Ministry on Thursday (October 1, 2026) showed that 4,018 people have died, making up nearly half of the 8,300 confirmed cases, in what has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history.
Congo announced an outbreak on May 15, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no known treatment or vaccine.
Some health workers gathered in Bunia, the capital of northeastern Ituri province, the heart of the outbreak. They were demanding payment for wages owed but were quickly dispersed by officials. The protesting workers included surveillance team members, who identify people exposed to infected patients. They waved placards saying, “No money, no data!” and “No payment for months.”
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