Ebola Outbreak in Eastern Congo Surges: 782 Cases, 181 Deaths

WHO:

AP News - Congolese Ministry of Health reported on the Ebola outbreak.

The Guardian - Dr. Babou Rukengeza, Save the Children’s Ebola response lead in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Guardian - Gratien Iracan, local MP for Bunia.

The Guardian - Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC.

The Guardian - Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, epidemiologist and chair of the Africa CDC emergency consultative group.

WHAT:

AP News - The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Congo has increased to 782, with 181 deaths.

AP News - Fifty-six people have recovered from the outbreak.

AP News - The current fatality rate of the outbreak is 23%.

The Guardian - The outbreak is roughly doubling in victims every week, with 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths reported by the UN.

The Guardian - Uganda has reported 19 cases and two deaths.

The Guardian - A joint response plan estimates that $518 million will be needed over the next six months to control the outbreak.

WHERE:

AP News - The outbreak is concentrated in Congo’s eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for more than 90% of the cases.

AP News - Cases have also been recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and have spread to Uganda.

The Guardian - The orphanage mentioned is located in Bunia, Ituri province.

WHEN:

AP News - The outbreak was confirmed on May 15.

The Guardian - African leaders will meet virtually on Tuesday to discuss the outbreak and make funding commitments.

WHY:

AP News - The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment.

The Guardian - Community trust is a critical challenge, with reports of resistance to hygiene measures and misinformation about the virus.

HOW:

AP News - Contact tracing coverage rate is at 56%, a decrease from the previous week.

The Guardian - Intensive tracing of contacts in Uganda has helped control the outbreak there.

The Guardian - Organizations involved in the response meet daily to coordinate plans.

(UPDATED June 15, 2026 01:49 UTC)

The Congolese Ministry of Health has reported a significant increase in the Ebola outbreak, with confirmed cases now totaling 782 and 181 deaths, while the fatality rate stands at 23%. The outbreak is primarily concentrated in the eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for over 90% of the cases, and a joint response plan estimates that $518 million will be needed over the next six months to control the situation. African leaders are set to meet virtually on Tuesday to discuss the outbreak and make funding commitments, as community trust remains a critical challenge in combating the spread of the virus.