Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The World Health Organization has issued a stark warning that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has entered a dangerous new phase, with infections reaching record levels and the majority of new cases emerging from unknown transmission chains. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and declared on May 15, 2026, has rapidly escalated into the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic ever recorded, with the death toll doubling in just two weeks. As of July 14, the National Institute of Public Health in the DRC reported 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 deaths, making it the third-largest Ebola outbreak in history. The virus has now spread across five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva after returning from the epicentre in Ituri Province, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, described the situation with alarming urgency. “We've seen the fastest growth in a single month since the outbreak started and of all the Ebola outbreaks that we have managed,” he said. Over the past few days, daily infection numbers have hit record highs, with more than 80 cases confirmed in a single 24-hour period. Ihekweazu likened the outbreak to a rapidly spreading blaze, stating: “You have to imagine that this is a fire. There's something driving the fire in its heart, and it's also expanding at the same time”.
One of the most alarming developments is the extent to which the virus is spreading undetected. According to WHO, an estimated 80 per cent of new infections are occurring outside known contact lists, meaning they are not among the individuals being monitored by health authorities. This indicates that large, hidden chains of transmission continue to drive the epidemic. The WHO has warned that the true scale of the outbreak could be at least two to four times larger than the official figures suggest. Many of the newly reported deaths are occurring in communities, with patients dying before ever reaching a health facility or receiving care. An analysis of confirmed deaths found that 92 per cent occurred before patients reached treatment centres. This pattern is reflected in the rising case-fatality rate, which has increased to 37 per cent from 32 per cent a week earlier.
The geographic spread of the virus has further complicated containment efforts. While up to 95 per cent of new cases are still concentrated in Ituri Province, the outbreak has recently expanded into Haut-Uele and Tshopo provinces, raising fears of further cross-border transmission. The confirmation of two Ebola cases in Wamba, Haut-Uélé, near the border with South Sudan, has heightened concerns that the virus could spread into a country with weak surveillance systems and limited health infrastructure. The International Rescue Committee has warned that the risk to South Sudan is "particularly alarming," noting that the outbreak could spread silently before being detected. The WHO estimates there is a 70 per cent likelihood that Ebola could spread into South Sudan.
The response effort is under severe strain. The 90-bed Elikiya Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia is operating at full capacity, and isolation facilities in North Kivu are at more than 120 per cent occupancy. More than 240 people have fled Ebola treatment or isolation facilities during the outbreak, including 100 in the past month, highlighting the difficulty of persuading patients to remain under care. Safe burial activities have also been disrupted in some areas because burial teams have not been paid. Healthcare workers have been severely affected, with Africa CDC reporting at least 112 infections and 35 deaths among frontline personnel.
Despite the escalating crisis, the WHO has warned that the response is critically underfunded. The global health agency has received only about 40 per cent of its $115 million appeal to tackle the Bundibugyo outbreak. “This outbreak requires resources that match the scale of the challenges that we are facing. And this is not a burden DRC can be allowed to carry alone,” Ihekweazu said, urging donors not to abandon the country at this critical stage. The funds are needed for laboratory testing, contact tracing, infection prevention, and case management. The WHO has stressed that "now is not the time to drop the ball," as the response has reached a critical point.
There is currently no approved treatment or vaccine specifically for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. However, several experimental therapies are undergoing clinical trials. The EBO-PEP platform trial, launched this week in Ituri Province, aims to recruit nearly 1,000 high-risk contacts to evaluate whether antiviral drugs can prevent Ebola infection after exposure. Despite the grim outlook, the WHO and its partners are emphasising the importance of community engagement. Efforts to involve local leaders, religious figures, and community volunteers have gradually improved health-seeking behaviour. More than 2.5 million people have been reached through community-based awareness activities.
The outbreak has now surpassed half the number of cases recorded during the DRC’s 2018–2020 Ebola epidemic, which lasted almost two years. With the virus continuing to spread into new provinces and the risk of cross-border transmission growing, health officials are racing against time to contain the epidemic. As Ihekweazu put it: “We must find the cases earlier, bring them into care as soon as possible so that we reduce transmission in the community. The more cases stay in the community, the more they transmit, the more we stay behind the curve”.
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