Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo surged past 8,000 by September 26, 2026, as the country struggles with a critical shortage of health workers. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, has spread across seven provinces and 63 health zones, with a fatality rate exceeding 48 percent.
The scale of the current crisis is outstripping historical precedents. According to data from the Africa CDC, the spread of this outbreak has already outpaced the 2014-2016 West Africa regional outbreak in terms of speed. By week 19, the West Africa outbreak recorded 3,781 cases; the current Congo outbreak recorded 7,840 in the same timeframe.
Bundibugyo Virus and the North Kivu Surge
Unlike previous outbreaks in the region caused by the Zaire strain, this epidemic is driven by the rare Bundibugyo virus. This strain presents a unique challenge for responders because there are currently no approved vaccines or known treatments.
While cases have declined in the epicenter of Ituri province and in Haut-Uele, the virus is gaining ground elsewhere. North Kivu has emerged as a primary flashpoint, where cases surged 73 percent over a three-week period. The mortality rate in North Kivu is particularly grim; nearly 60 percent of diagnosed patients there have died, significantly higher than the 48 percent national average.
According to a report from the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 24 September 2026, the country had reported 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 related deaths based on data up until 23 September. This included 893 patients hospitalized in isolation. Between 23 September and 24 September, there was an increase of 70 new confirmed cases and 20 deaths. These 70 new cases were reported from Ituri (31 cases), North Kivu (31 cases), Haut-Uélé (six cases), Bas-Uélé (one case), and Tshopo (one case). Among those who tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus, 1,966 individuals have recovered.
The impact varies significantly by province. Ituri remains the most affected, with 6,032 cases and 2,764 deaths reported from 28 of 36 health zones. North Kivu has reported 1,480 cases and 884 deaths from 16 of 34 health zones. In Haut-Uélé, there are 322 cases and 130 deaths from seven of 13 health zones. Tshopo has 43 cases and 15 deaths from seven of 23 health zones. Bas-Uélé has reported eight cases and four deaths from three of 11 health zones. In South Kivu, three cases and one death were reported from one of 34 health zones, and in Sud Ubangi, two cases and one death were reported from one of 16 health zones.
Health Worker Shortages and Payroll Strikes
The medical response is buckling under a severe lack of personnel. A single Ebola treatment center requires roughly 300 professionals, including nurses, general practitioners, anesthetists, and hygienists. However, the World Health Organization warns that while beds are being added, there aren’t enough staff to operate them.
This shortage is compounded by labor unrest. Frontline workers in Ituri previously went on strike over unpaid wages. Health Minister Roger Kamba noted in July that the government was verifying payrolls after discovering names of people not involved in the response had been added. Some workers have received only partial arrears, while others have received nothing.
We are building Ebola treatment centers but do not always have the human resources needed to operate them. Those health workers must be paid.
Anne Ancia, WHO representative in Congo, via PBS
The toll on the workforce is not just financial. The Africa CDC reports that 50 health workers have died since the outbreak began on May 15.
Conflict and the Failure of Contact Tracing
Containment is being hamstrung by a volatile security environment. Displacement and active conflict have created access problems to certain areas, making it nearly impossible for teams to reach affected communities.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, It’s very difficult to see Ebola in isolation because even our response to Ebola is affected by the conflict, because there is displacement and there is an access problem to some areas.
Tedros added that the Bundibugyo strain is difficult to treat because there are no approved vaccines, though the WHO is accelerating clinical trials of treatments and vaccines.
This instability has led to a massive gap in contact tracing. Dr. Jean Kaseya of the Africa CDC stated that the more than 7,000 confirmed cases should have resulted in approximately 420,000 identified contacts. Instead, the contact list currently contains only 30,000 people. Data from the DRC indicates that 83.4% of identified case contacts are under follow-up in the affected provinces.
Fear also plays a role in the spread. In North Kivu’s Butembo, Dr. Michel Paluku Mukuloli reports that patients often avoid hospitals, fearing they will be immediately sent to the treatment centre to die. This avoidance means many patients only seek help when the disease has reached its most dangerous stages.
Vulnerability of Children and Border Expansion
The WHO has identified children under five as the most vulnerable population. This group faces a case fatality rate of more than 60 percent, compared to roughly 40 percent for adults.
The virus is also pushing into new territories. The WHO reported that the Bundibugyo strain has spread to two new health zones:
- Bulu: Located in the South Ubangi governorate on the border with the Central African Republic.
- Dungu: Located in the Haut-Uele province on the border with South Sudan.
Marie Roseline Belizaire, the WHO’s regional emergency director for Africa, noted that between Aug. 31 and Sept. 20, cases fell 26% in Ituri province and 15% in Haut-Uele. However, she stated, While cases and deaths are declining in some provinces, they continue to rise in others,
adding that The outbreak is still not under control and remains spread across a wide geographic area.
The WHO warns that the outbreak is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people. By September 26, the latest data from Congo’s health ministry showed 8,067 confirmed cases and 3,901 deaths. The WHO stated in its latest report that the “continuously high crude case fatality ratio, and especially the continuously high rate of deaths occurring in communities, highlights the seriousness of the disease and the persistent challenges in timely case detection and access to early and adequate patient care.”
Readers should consult qualified health professionals for medical guidance regarding Ebola or the Bundibugyo virus.
