Kinshasa, August 23, 2026: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached the 100-day mark, with the World Health Organization (WHO) calling for stronger community involvement, surveillance and medical support to contain the rapidly expanding health crisis.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the milestone in a message after visiting communities affected by the outbreak. He said local residents had demonstrated remarkable resilience despite facing severe challenges and stressed that communities must remain at the centre of the response.

Outbreak continues to expand

The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, was first detected in northeastern DRC and has since spread across multiple provinces. WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026, triggering increased international coordination.

WHO’s latest available situation report, covering data through August 16, said the outbreak had expanded to a sixth province, with a confirmed case detected in Bas-Uélé. The report recorded another 640 confirmed cases and 367 confirmed deaths during the reporting period, pushing the case-fatality ratio higher.

More recent reporting indicates that the outbreak has now become the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the DRC’s history. Reuters reported on August 21 that more than 2,500 people had died and that the virus was spreading rapidly across a region larger than France.

WHO calls for stronger community action

Tedros said the WHO remains committed to working with the DRC government, local leaders, health workers, Africa CDC and other partners to bring the outbreak under control.

The WHO and Africa CDC have specifically called for greater community-led action, including faster detection of infections, improved contact tracing, expanded access to treatment and stronger support for frontline health workers.

Health authorities face significant difficulties in reaching people in some affected areas because of insecurity, population movement, weak infrastructure and mistrust surrounding the disease and treatment facilities.

Healthcare workers face growing pressure

Frontline medical workers are among those facing the greatest risks. Recent reporting said 160 healthcare workers had been infected and 43 had died during the outbreak. Attacks and other security problems have also complicated efforts to deliver medical assistance.

The WHO has emphasized that protecting healthcare workers is essential for maintaining the response. Ensuring that medical teams have adequate resources, security and community support remains a major priority.

Vaccine and treatment challenges

The outbreak has been particularly difficult because the Bundibugyo strain currently has no specifically approved vaccine or treatment. However, international health agencies are exploring whether existing Ebola vaccines could provide some protection while new vaccines are being developed.

The WHO and its partners have announced plans to provide 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, including doses intended for clinical trials and frontline workers. Although Ervebo is licensed for another Ebola strain, researchers are studying whether it can offer protection against Bundibugyo virus.

Researchers are also working on new vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain, with trials expected to provide additional information about potential protection.

Global health concern remains

The scale and speed of the current outbreak have raised international concern. WHO officials have warned that continued transmission in eastern DRC could increase the risk of regional spread, particularly because affected areas are connected by population and trade routes.

At the same time, health authorities say the outbreak can still be brought under control if surveillance, treatment, vaccination research and community engagement are strengthened.

As the crisis enters its second hundred days, the WHO is urging governments, donors, health organizations and local communities to maintain pressure on the outbreak rather than allowing attention to fade.

For residents of affected areas, the immediate priorities remain early detection, access to safe medical care and protection for those working on the front lines of the response.