WHO warns DR Congo Ebola outbreak may be double the official tally
The WHO warns that the actual number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is likely double the official count of 1,963. Efforts to contain the outbreak are further complicated by healthcare worker strikes over unpaid salaries in the epicentre of the crisis.
Why it matters
The underreporting of cases and the disruption of medical services pose a severe threat to public health and the containment of one of the fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks on record.
UN health agency warns of underreported cases while doctors at outbreak epicentre threaten to go on strike.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A Red Cross burial team in full protective gear prepares a coffin as relatives watch, part of a highly controlled process designed to prevent further Ebola transmission [Catherine Wambua-Soi/Al Jazeera] By Al Jazeera Staff , AFP , AP and Reuters Published On 14 Jul 2026 14 Jul 2026 The true number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is likely at least double the official tally, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) official.
The WHO has confirmed at least 1,963 cases, and at least 719 have died.
Speaking after visiting the region, Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Executive Director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said most deaths occurred in the family environment and not in medical centres.
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