Ebola outbreak on course to be largest worldwide

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 28, 2026

Over 100 days after being declared, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has resulted in nearly 5,000 cases and over 2,000 deaths, making it the deadliest in the country’s history. The outbreak involves a rare Ebola strain lacking approved treatments, and efforts to control it are hindered by delayed detection, limited community trust, and ongoing transmission in multiple provinces.

Just over 100 days after the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) officially reported an Ebola outbreak, the region is grappling with nearly 5,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths, marking it as the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded in the country’s history. Health officials warn that this event may become the biggest Ebola epidemic worldwide.

The outbreak was formally declared on May 15, but evidence suggests the virus had been spreading undetected for several months prior. “The outbreak had a big head start, it is still way ahead of us and we are playing catch-up,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO). The delay in detection and response has complicated efforts to control the spread.

This latest outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rarer variant for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment. As a result, health workers must depend on intensive case identification, patient isolation, and contact tracing to contain transmission. However, these efforts face significant barriers due to limited community engagement. Fear and mistrust of health authorities have led to patients fleeing treatment and traditional burial practices being conducted in secret, which further hampers control measures.

The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in May. Early viral sequencing traced the outbreak’s origins back to February, months before official recognition. The virus has affected six of the DRC’s 26 provinces, with the epicenter concentrated in the northeastern province of Ituri, which shares borders with Uganda and South Sudan. Ituri alone accounts for over 4,200 confirmed cases.

Across the border in Uganda, 20 cases and two deaths were reported, all in the capital, Kampala. The Ugandan government declared itself Ebola-free on July 28 following the discharge of the last patient on July 16.

Despite ongoing response efforts, the outbreak continues to spread, underscoring the challenges in managing an epidemic involving a hard-to-reach population and a strain without existing medical countermeasures. Regional health authorities and international partners continue to emphasize the importance of community cooperation to break transmission chains and contain the virus.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.