DR Congo Records Up to 80 New Ebola Cases Daily as Death Toll Nears 5,000, WHO Says
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is recording between 50 and 80 new confirmed Ebola cases daily, as the outbreak continues to spread across parts of the country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.
Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, disclosed the figures during an interview on Wednesday, October 28, saying the outbreak had reached approximately 10,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths.
He described the situation as critical, noting that eight provinces were affected and that insecurity and weak healthcare infrastructure were complicating efforts to contain the virus.
The outbreak, declared on May 15, 2026, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus. It has spread across eastern and northeastern parts of the country, including Ituri and North Kivu, where health workers face challenges reaching vulnerable communities.
WHO officials have also raised concerns that many infected people are dying at home without receiving timely medical attention, increasing the risk of further transmission and making it harder to identify cases.
The outbreak has prompted regional preparedness measures after imported cases were reported in Kenya and Nigeria. Health authorities in affected countries are strengthening surveillance, contact tracing and infection-prevention measures.
Efforts to develop protection against the Bundibugyo strain are also underway. A clinical trial has been launched in DR Congo to assess vaccine candidates, as no vaccine has yet been approved specifically for this strain.
The latest figures underline the scale of the outbreak and the urgent need for stronger surveillance, faster diagnosis, improved access to treatment and coordinated regional action.
