The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing its deadliest Ebola outbreak ever, with more than 6,186 confirmed cases and 3,007 deaths reported as of 1 September 2026 since the epidemic was declared in May. According to The Conversation Africa, the outbreak, driven by the Bundibugyo strain for which no licensed vaccine or specific treatment exists, could become the worst Ebola epidemic in history unless response efforts are accelerated.

The World Health Organization says the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak is becoming “increasingly heterogeneous,” with a high number of deaths occurring in communities. According to the report, the outbreak was declared in May and has since become the country’s largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic on record. It is also described as the second-largest globally, behind the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported over 1,000 confirmed cases of Ebola, with the total reaching 1,003, including 254 deaths, according to the DRC Health Ministry. The outbreak is still active and has not yet peaked, indicating ongoing concerns regarding the spread of the virus.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to escalate, with confirmed infections surpassing 6,000 and the death toll reaching 2,911, according to a DW health report carried by The Independent Uganda. The United Nations has appealed for additional funding, saying humanitarian agencies are struggling to keep pace with the rising number of cases. The situation has prompted growing international concern over the outbreak's trajectory.

An infectious disease epidemiologist with experience managing Sierra Leone's 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak warns that the Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in mid-2026 risks becoming a global epidemic. Writing for The Conversation Africa, the author cites the outbreak's speed, scale and wide geographical spread as reasons for concern, and draws lessons from the earlier West African epidemic on how to prevent further transmission.

Uganda recently closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo to prevent the spread of Ebola, as the Congo faces a significant outbreak with over 1,000 suspected and confirmed cases and more than 250 deaths reported as of May 27, 2026, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Public health experts suggest that such border closures may not be the most effective strategy in managing the outbreak.