DRC Faces Rapidly Expanding Ebola Outbreak, Second Largest Ever
WHO:
CNN - Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
CNN - Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa CDC
The Guardian - Prof Pierre Akilimali, from the country’s public health institute (NPHI)
The Guardian - Dr. Justus Nsio, field incident manager for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
The Guardian - Prof Placide Mbala, head of laboratory operations for the Ebola response in the DRC
The Guardian - Deborah Nzuva, a mother of four living in Rwampara
The Guardian - Annabelle Nissi, a clothing trader in Bunia
WHAT:
CNN - The outbreak has surpassed the total number reported in the 2018-2020 outbreak, which lasted nearly two years and recorded approximately 3,470 cases.
CNN - The first 1,000 cases in this outbreak were reported within the first 40 days of response activation, compared to about 235 days for the 2018 outbreak.
CNN - The outbreak has resulted in at least 3,553 confirmed cases and at least 1,558 deaths.
CNN - About two-thirds of the deaths are occurring among people who never received care in a health facility.
CNN - Only about 1 in 8 of the potential contacts have been identified for follow-up, with fewer than 18,000 people on the contact tracing list.
CNN - A vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain, developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India, is the first to reach the clinical trial stage, with the first dose administered last week.
CNN - A trial of two antiviral therapies, a monoclonal antibody (MBP134) and remdesivir, has been enrolling patients in the DRC for about a month, with at least 41 patients participating so far.
CNN - The outbreak has now surpassed the total number reported in the 2018-2020 outbreak, which lasted nearly two years and recorded approximately 3,470 cases.
Al Jazeera - A total of 1,556 people have died from the virus, bringing the case fatality rate to 44.1 percent.
Al Jazeera - The Africa CDC stated that it would require $1.4 billion to contain the outbreak, which is three times its earlier estimate.
Al Jazeera - Less than three months since the outbreak began, the disease has killed five times as many people as previous outbreaks had by the same stage.
Al Jazeera - The latest figures indicated that only the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was bigger with 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths recorded across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
CNN - The current outbreak has surpassed the total number reported in the 2018-2020 outbreak, which lasted nearly two years and recorded approximately 3,470 cases.
CNN - The outbreak is now the second-largest on record, with only the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa being larger, which had over 28,600 reported cases and 11,325 deaths.
Al Jazeera - A total of 1,556 people have died from the virus, bringing the case fatality rate to 44.1 percent.
Al Jazeera - As of the latest reports, 807 patients remain in isolation or hospital while 626 have recovered.
Al Jazeera - The Africa CDC stated that it would require $1.4 billion to contain the outbreak, which is three times its earlier estimate.
CNN - The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC has resulted in at least 3,553 confirmed cases and at least 1,558 deaths.
CNN - The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which lacks readily available vaccines and treatments.
The Guardian - The outbreak has recorded 3,360 confirmed cases and 1,487 deaths, with an estimated case fatality rate of about 45%.
CNN - The first 1,000 cases were reported within the first 40 days of response activation.
The Guardian - Between 100 and 150 new confirmed infections are reported each week in the Bunia and Rwampara health zones.
CNN - Trials for a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain began, with the first dose administered last week.
The Guardian - Clinical trials for a vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain began in early July, with about 20 people enrolled as of July 15.
WHERE:
CNN - The outbreak is primarily affecting the Ituri province in the northeast corner of the DRC, which is a resource-rich area with high population mobility and cross-border movement.
Al Jazeera - The virus has affected five provinces across the DRC: Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tshopo.
CNN - The outbreak is primarily affecting the Ituri province in the northeast corner of the DRC.
The Guardian - The outbreak is affecting people in five provinces in the east of the DRC.
CNN - Twenty cases associated with the outbreak have been reported in Uganda and one in France.
The Guardian - Rwampara and Bunia are specific regions within the Ituri province affected by the outbreak.
WHEN:
CNN - The outbreak was identified in mid-May.
The Guardian - The outbreak was officially declared by Congolese authorities on May 15.
The Guardian - The trials for the vaccine could last up to four months.
WHY:
CNN - The outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which lacks readily available vaccines and treatments, and active conflict in the region is hindering response teams' ability to reach affected communities.
CNN - Active conflict in the region is hindering response teams' ability to reach affected communities.
The Guardian - Insecurity, mining, and high population density complicate the outbreak response.
HOW:
CNN - The US government is coordinating with some United Nations agencies for outbreak response, but left WHO membership last year, which could present barriers to communications or coordination.
Al Jazeera - Medical personnel are battling a lack of security and attacks on health facilities across the eastern DRC, where dozens of armed groups operate, while contending with significant foreign aid cuts that have stretched resources.
Al Jazeera - A lack of trust in authorities and education among the population is also creating hurdles to bringing the outbreak under control.
CNN - The US government is coordinating with some United Nations agencies for outbreak response.
The Guardian - Congolese authorities have strengthened surveillance through community liaison officers and built more than 20 Ebola treatment centers.
(UPDATED August 1, 2026 10:28 UTC)
The ongoing outbreak in the Ituri province of the DRC has now surpassed the total number of cases reported during the previous outbreak from 2018 to 2020, with at least 3,553 confirmed cases and 1,558 deaths. The situation is exacerbated by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which is difficult to treat and is further complicated by active conflict in the region, limiting access for response teams. In response, a vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India has entered clinical trials, and antiviral therapies are being tested with at least 41 patients currently enrolled.
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(UPDATED July 31, 2026 23:19 UTC)
The current outbreak has now surpassed the total number of cases reported during the 2018-2020 outbreak, with over 3,470 cases recorded. Tragically, 1,556 people have died from the virus, resulting in a case fatality rate of 44.1 percent, and the Africa CDC estimates that it will require $1.4 billion to effectively contain this outbreak. Medical personnel are facing significant challenges, including a lack of security and attacks on health facilities in the eastern DRC, compounded by cuts in foreign aid and a general lack of trust in authorities among the population.
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(UPDATED July 31, 2026 19:26 UTC)
The current outbreak of the virus has now surpassed the total number of cases reported during the 2018-2020 outbreak, reaching a staggering total that makes it the second-largest on record, following the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa. Tragically, 1,556 people have died, resulting in a case fatality rate of 44.1 percent, while 807 patients remain in isolation or hospital and 626 have recovered. The Africa CDC has indicated that it will require $1.4 billion to effectively contain the outbreak, which is three times its earlier estimate, as the virus continues to impact five provinces across the DRC, including Haut-Uele and North Kivu.
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(UPDATED July 31, 2026 13:33 UTC)
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has led to at least 3,553 confirmed cases and 1,558 deaths, primarily driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which currently lacks effective vaccines and treatments. The outbreak, which was officially declared on May 15, is affecting five provinces, with Rwampara and Bunia being particularly hard hit, and trials for a vaccine targeting this strain began in early July, with the first dose administered last week. Active conflict and insecurity in the region are complicating the response, but Congolese authorities are working to strengthen surveillance and have established over 20 Ebola treatment centers to aid in the effort.