The story so far: The latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to tighten its grip even as latest figures indicate that the number of deaths caused by the disease has crossed 1,500. As of July 28, 2026, Congo has recorded 3,442 cases and 1,521 deaths, according to data from the country’s Ministry of Health. Almost 797 people are hospitalised or in isolation while the strained Congo scrambles to mount a response.
What is Ebola?
Ebola, a deadly disease, is caused by a group of viruses known as orthoebolaviruses. The disease first occurred in 1976 in South Sudan and Congo. While animals are thought to be natural hosts of the virus, it can spread to humans when they consume or come in close contact with fluids and secretions from the infected hosts. The incubation period for the virus ranges from two to 21 days while some of the symptoms include fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain rash.
The disease is not airborne and can only be transmitted from one person to another when they come into contact with blood or bodily fluids of a person infected with or has died of ebola; or surfaces that have been contaminated by the fluids of an infected person. A person is only contagious after they start showing symptoms.
Which type of virus is behind this outbreak?
The current outbreak in Congo is caused by the rarest among the four types of orthoebolaviruses that cause illness in people – Bundibugyo. Previously reported in 2007 and 2012 in Congo, the strain does not have any approved vaccines or specific treatments. Reports say that the disease spread unchecked in the area as blood tests were done only for the more common type of Ebola.
A drone view shows the Ceca-20 cemetery, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, in Mungwalu
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
When did the outbreak start and why has it been difficult to contain it?
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported an Ebola outbreak on May 15, 2026. However, Congo has said that the first death due to the disease was on April 24 in Bunia and confirmation was marred by false negatives and other delays. The body of the deceased was sent back to an area with a large population. According to the country’s Health Minister, this caused the escalation of the outbreak.
Bunia, the capital city of the Ituri Province is the epicentre of the outbreak with a massive load of cases. Cases have also been reported in North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.
A health worker checks an individual’s temperature at a temporary health clinic at the Mpondwe border crossing linking Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| Photo Credit:
AP
Apart from the lack of a vaccine, the insecurity in the region due to rebel conflict, lack of health facilities and poor infrastructure, including roads and lack of laboratories have added to the woes. Community distrust is high, while unsafe burial practices and delayed reporting have also hindered the outreach effort.
Contact tracing rate is still at 78.3% which is well below the 90-95% needed to contain the outbreak, according to the WHO.
The speed of transmission in the current outbreak has been a concern with officials saying it could swell to become the largest outbreak. A projection by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said the current outbreak risked rivalling the scale of the 2014 West Africa epidemic, which saw over 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths without intervention.
“The outbreak is moving fast, and we are still playing catch-up,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said, calling for a fast response.
What has been the response?
Congo has stepped up surveillance measures, began training more personnel and tightened norms around mass gatherings. The World Health Organization said on May 17, 2026 that the outbreak constituted a “public health emergency of international concern” — the second-highest level of alert under international health regulations. The chief of the WHO also announced a $518 million six-month joint plan to fight Ebola. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also said that it would give $107 million for the outbreak. India has sent emergency pharmaceutical supplies to support efforts to contain the outbreak.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks to the media regarding the epidemic of Ebola and global health issues during a press conference. File
| Photo Credit:
AP
What is the status in the neighbouring countries?
Uganda, which shares a border with Congo, said the country was free of Ebola on July 28, 2026, after the last infected national was discharged. The country had a total of 20 confirmed cases, of which 18 were discharged while two died. It remains on alert, as are the other at-risk nations — Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Zambia.
What is the progress on the vaccine?
Scientists at the Oxford University are working on a vaccine (ChAdOx1 BDBV) using the same technology as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. It has entered human trials as the first volunteer received the jab last week. Other vaccines are also in development but none have advanced to this stage.
Published – July 31, 2026 12:20 pm IST