Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo Surpasses Previous Records The Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has escalated into the largest recorded Ebola outbreak in the country’s history, with cases and deaths surging across multiple provinces. As of 30 July 2026, 3605 confirmed cases and 1587 deaths have been reported, yielding a crude case fatality ratio (CFR) of 44%. The outbreak, initially confined to the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri Province, has expanded to five provinces—Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo—now affecting 49 health zones. The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing insecurity, population displacement, and cross-border movements, complicating containment efforts. The outbreak’s rapid spread has led to unprecedented challenges for public health authorities. During the most recent epidemiological week (week 30), 567 cases and 296 deaths were recorded, the highest weekly totals to date. This surge highlights the virus’s aggressive transmission dynamics, particularly in conflict-affected areas where access to healthcare and basic services is limited. The DRC’s national authorities, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners, have implemented extensive response measures, but officials emphasize the need for a substantial scaling up of efforts to curb the outbreak. The outbreak’s geographic expansion has also raised concerns about regional transmission. A confirmed case in France, linked to a healthcare worker deployed to the DRC, was discharged on 4 July 2026 after two negative PCR tests.#world_health_organization #democratic_republic_of_the_congo #ituri_province #ebola_outbreak #north_kivu_province
