ع
The Emirates News Agency reported that confirmed Ebola cases in DR Congo rise to 1,307, citing the latest update from Congolese health authorities on June 29. This figure marks a significant increase from previous tallies that stood at around 1,274 cases just days earlier according to World Health Organization updates. The outbreak, which began in Ituri Province, has now affected multiple regions and prompted international concern.
According to the World Health Organization, the epidemic was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026, after cases were confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. WHO data indicates this is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus was first identified. The Bundibugyo virus strain is responsible for the current infections, differing from some previous outbreaks.
The DRC Ministry of Health has reported that the majority of cases are in Ituri Province, with additional clusters in North Kivu and South Kivu. A separate WHO assessment found that 20 confirmed cases and two deaths have been recorded in Uganda, all in Kampala. Health officials have isolated hundreds of patients as part of containment measures, with more than 500 treatment beds now available.
UN News quoted Dr. Abdirahman Mahamud of the WHO as saying the outbreak saw the largest number of confirmed cases in the first month of any Ebola outbreak in Africa. The response has scaled up with laboratory testing capacity increasing from 30 tests per day to over 2,000 across several facilities. Vaccination campaigns have targeted contacts and frontline workers in line with established protocols.
Historical records from the WHO show that the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in the DRC recorded more than 3,400 cases and 2,200 deaths. The current event had already reached third-largest status by late June 2026 according to CDC summaries. International partners continue to support contact tracing and community engagement activities across affected areas.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that the outbreak has spread to urban centers, elevating transmission risks. Cross-border coordination with Uganda and neighboring countries is underway to monitor potential spread. The DRC government continues to lead response operations with assistance from global health bodies.
