Ebola Crisis: DRC Faces Surge While Uganda Celebrates Recovery

WHO:

Al Jazeera - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief

Al Jazeera - Uganda’s health ministry

Al Jazeera - Healthcare workers in Ituri, DRC

WHAT:

Al Jazeera - The Ebola outbreak in the DRC has expanded faster than any previous outbreak.

Al Jazeera - The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC increased to 2,124.

Al Jazeera - The DRC reported 62 new cases, increasing its total confirmed infections to 2,073.

Al Jazeera - Uganda discharged its last remaining Ebola patient, starting a 42-day countdown to being declared Ebola-free.

Al Jazeera - Uganda had 20 cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola since mid-May, with 15 cases linked to individuals who traveled from the DRC.

Al Jazeera - 377 people have recovered from Ebola in the DRC.

WHERE:

Al Jazeera - Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.

Al Jazeera - Uganda

WHEN:

Al Jazeera - The DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15.

Al Jazeera - Uganda will be declared Ebola-free if 42 days pass without a single new case.

WHY:

Al Jazeera - The DRC outbreak is attributed to the rapid spread of the virus, with over 80 percent of new cases detected outside known contact lists.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - Ebola spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids.

Al Jazeera - Healthcare workers in Ituri began a strike due to lack of compensation since the outbreak began.

(UPDATED July 17, 2026 10:32 UTC)

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has escalated rapidly, with the number of confirmed cases now reaching 2,124, including 62 new infections reported recently. Meanwhile, Uganda has discharged its last remaining Ebola patient, marking the beginning of a 42-day countdown to potentially being declared Ebola-free, despite having recorded 20 cases of the Bundibugyo strain since mid-May, with many linked to travel from the DRC. Healthcare workers in Ituri are currently striking due to unpaid compensation since the outbreak began, complicating efforts to manage the crisis as the virus spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids.