Ebola Deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo Top 5,000

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has exceeded 5,000. Congolese Ministry of Health figures reported on 31 October put confirmed cases at 10,351 and deaths at 5,026, a case fatality rate near 50 per cent. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared in mid-May 2026 and has become the second-largest and second-deadliest Ebola epidemic on record, behind only the 2014-2016 West African outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people.

No approved vaccine or specific treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain. Health workers manage patients with supportive care. About one-third of deaths have occurred outside treatment centres, according to World Health Organization estimates. Cases have been recorded in eight of Congo’s 26 provinces and in 67 of 178 health zones, with active transmission in 50 zones. Ituri and North Kivu account for the large majority of cases and deaths.

The virus has also been detected in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. A single case reached France. WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in May. Transmission has slowed in some eastern zones after earlier peaks of roughly 850 cases a week in mid-July, but new health zones continue to report infections. Conflict, delayed detection and strained health services have limited containment.

More than 2,700 people have recovered. At least 50 health workers have died after infection. Routine services, including childhood immunisation and maternal care, have been disrupted in affected provinces. Strikes over unpaid wages have further reduced capacity. A treatment centre was burned in one location earlier in the outbreak, reflecting community mistrust in some areas.

Africa CDC has warned neighbouring countries. Nigeria reported its first case in late October, extending the geographic reach into West Africa. Congolese authorities and international partners continue contact tracing, isolation and burial protocols, but resource gaps remain. The outbreak began in Ituri province and has since reached South Ubangi and other distant areas through travel.

Earlier milestones show the pace: 1,000 deaths by 21 July, 2,000 by 9 August, 3,000 by 31 August, 4,000 by 2 October and 5,000 by 29 October. The rapid early growth made it the fastest-expanding Ebola outbreak in Congo’s history. MSF has described the human cost as unprecedented for the country. With no specific medical countermeasures available, control depends on isolation, safe burial and community engagement.

The current figures place the epidemic second only to the West African outbreak in both scale and mortality. Continued spread into new zones and neighbouring countries keeps the risk of further geographic expansion present. Health authorities are monitoring for additional imported cases while focusing remaining resources on the highest-burden districts in eastern Congo.