Ebola Outbreak Escalates in Congo as Virus Spreads to 60 Health Zones

Kinshasa, August 28, 2026: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is confronting an increasingly severe Ebola emergency as the outbreak continues to expand across the country’s eastern regions, putting enormous pressure on an already strained health system.

According to the latest Congolese government figures, the outbreak has now reached 60 health zones, after two additional areas in North Kivu province were identified as affected. The epidemic has recorded 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths, highlighting the extraordinary speed at which the virus is spreading.

Two More Areas Report Ebola Transmission

The newly affected health zones are Biena and Manguredjipa, both located in North Kivu.

Health authorities say the situation in North Kivu is particularly concerning because the province has recorded a case-fatality rate substantially higher than the national average. Delays in identifying infections and difficulties reaching vulnerable communities have complicated efforts to slow transmission.

The expansion means that the outbreak is no longer concentrated in a small number of locations. Instead, health teams are attempting to respond across a broad geographical area while facing major logistical and security challenges.

A Rare Ebola Virus Is Responsible

The current epidemic is being caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a less common species within the Ebola virus group.

One of the biggest challenges for health authorities is that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment designed for Bundibugyo virus disease. Clinical research is underway to evaluate potential medical tools against the strain.

This makes conventional public-health measures particularly important. Authorities are relying heavily on identifying patients, tracing their contacts, isolating suspected cases, improving infection-control procedures and educating communities.

Congo Begins Vaccinating Frontline Workers

Despite the absence of a vaccine specifically licensed for the current virus, Congo has begun vaccinating frontline and healthcare workers with Ervebo, a vaccine approved for another Ebola species.

The vaccination campaign is being conducted under special arrangements while researchers investigate whether Ervebo can provide meaningful protection against Bundibugyo virus.

The global vaccine stockpile has allocated 70,000 doses to Congo. Of these, 50,000 are intended for frontline and healthcare workers, while another 20,000 doses are being used as part of a clinical trial designed to evaluate the vaccine’s effectiveness against the current virus.

Health Workers Face Exceptional Risks

Medical personnel are among those most exposed to the disease because they work directly with infected patients.

The shortage of treatment beds is another major obstacle. Médecins Sans Frontières, known as Doctors Without Borders, has opened a new Ebola treatment centre in Beni, North Kivu, where authorities have reported a particularly high fatality rate.

Aid organizations have warned that additional treatment capacity is urgently needed as the number of patients continues to rise.

Conflict Makes Containment Harder

The Ebola emergency is unfolding in an area already affected by armed conflict, displacement and humanitarian instability.

Insecurity can prevent medical teams from safely reaching communities and makes contact tracing more difficult. Population movements also create additional opportunities for the virus to travel from one location to another.

The World Health Organization has described the risk inside Congo as very high, while warning that neighboring countries need strong surveillance and preparedness because of cross-border movement.

WHO Maintains International Emergency Status

The WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee has determined that the outbreak continues to meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The organization has called for intensified surveillance, faster detection of cases, stronger infection-prevention measures, improved clinical care and greater cooperation with affected communities.

WHO officials have also warned that the official numbers may not represent the full scale of transmission. Modeling reviewed by the emergency committee suggested that the actual number of infections could be several times higher than the cases identified through surveillance.

Uganda Provides a Positive Development

There is at least one encouraging development in the region.

Uganda, which experienced Ebola cases during the same period, was declared free of the outbreak after completing the required period without new transmission. WHO praised the country’s response and rapid control of the disease.

However, the continuing epidemic in Congo means regional vigilance remains essential, particularly along borders and major transportation routes.

International Assistance Is Increasing

International health organizations and humanitarian agencies are increasing their involvement as the outbreak grows.

WHO, Africa CDC and other partners are supporting surveillance, laboratory testing, treatment capacity, vaccination efforts and community engagement.

The United Nations has also urged the international community to provide additional resources, warning that funding and operational shortages could make containment increasingly difficult.

Schools Also Face Disruption

The outbreak is affecting more than hospitals and clinics.

With schools scheduled to reopen across Congo on September 1, authorities have introduced a risk-based system for Ebola-affected regions. Schools in lower-risk areas may reopen with preventive measures, while institutions in areas with active transmission could temporarily rely on home-based learning and educational broadcasts.

The approach is intended to balance children’s education with the need to reduce opportunities for transmission.

A Critical Battle Against Time

The latest expansion of the Ebola outbreak demonstrates the scale of the challenge facing Congo.

Health authorities must simultaneously locate new infections, protect medical workers, expand treatment capacity, maintain public trust and overcome insecurity. Every delay can make containment more difficult.

The situation remains serious, but public-health experts emphasize that Ebola transmission can be controlled when surveillance, isolation, treatment, infection prevention and community cooperation are implemented effectively.

For Congo, the immediate priority is to slow the virus before it reaches still more communities. The coming weeks will determine whether intensified vaccination, treatment and surveillance efforts can reverse the current trajectory of the outbreak.