September 29, 2026
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak has grown into the worst in the country’s history. Health authorities say cases may be levelling off, but they stop short of saying the crisis is contained.
On 27 September, the DRC reported a total of 8,067 confirmed cases, including 3,901 related deaths, with 78 new cases and 49 deaths since the previous day’s report. The country’s health authorities count it as the worst outbreak in DRC history. European Centre for Disease Prevention and ControlAl Jazeera
A fast-moving outbreak with no vaccine
The outbreak was confirmed in the DRC and Uganda in May 2026. It is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment, though promising candidates are being tested. The DRC officially declared the outbreak on May 15, and the World Health Organization has said it is far from over and on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic. WHOAl Jazeera
The speed of spread has been striking. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak passed 1,000 confirmed cases within 40 days of response activation. The 2018 outbreak in the DRC took about 235 days to reach the same mark. CDC
Signs of a plateau, but no all-clear
Africa CDC, the African Union’s health agency, says case numbers have levelled off after a rapid increase, but it still considers the outbreak not under control. An independent scientific review by the agency’s Emergency Consultative Group struck a similar note. The group supports a position of cautious optimism, but says the available data do not yet confirm that the outbreak has reached its peak. Al JazeeraGlobal Security
The group also urged officials to maintain the continental emergency designation and fast-track free essential health services, so that immunisation, maternal and child health, antenatal care and nutrition services disrupted by the outbreak can be restored. Global Security
Mistrust and insecurity hamper the response
Public trust has become a serious obstacle. Mistrust and anger toward government policies have made it harder to limit the outbreak. A senior member of the ruling UDPS party was beaten to death in Butembo, in North Kivu province, after raising awareness about the epidemic on radio. Butembo has become a hotspot in the outbreak. Al Jazeera
Security is another problem. The CDC says ongoing conflict in the affected area creates security issues and complicates contact tracing and infection prevention and control. CDC
Diplomatic push
On 23 September, the United States convened a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in New York on accelerating collective action to defeat Ebola. The DRC and Uganda took part. Africa CDC welcomed the meeting and urged partners to turn solidarity into faster, transparent and accountable delivery. Global SecurityGlobal Security
Risk outside the region
The CDC says no Ebola cases from this outbreak have been confirmed in the United States, and the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low. CDC
Figures are drawn from reporting by the ECDC, Al Jazeera, the US CDC, Africa CDC and the WHO. Case counts change daily, so check official sources for the latest numbers.
