The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has expanded to include two additional provinces, according to the country’s health ministry. Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, a total of 1,307 cases and 377 deaths have been reported, primarily in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

Recent developments indicate a possible spread to the central province of Tshopo, where individuals may have been exposed to the virus through contact with the body of a pregnant woman who died there. The woman initially fell ill on June 18 and passed away on June 27. Her body was transported from neighboring Ituri province to Tshopo, where Ebola infection was subsequently confirmed.

In addition, two individuals have been identified as contacts of confirmed Ebola cases in Haut-Uele province, which also shares borders with Ituri. Haut-Uele's geographic location is of particular concern, as it borders South Sudan and the Central African Republic, raising the potential risk of cross-border transmission.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts to contain the outbreak are underway, including contact tracing, surveillance, and community engagement in the affected areas. The expansion of the outbreak into new provinces underscores the ongoing challenges of controlling Ebola transmission in the region’s complex and often unstable environment.