The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded 8,067 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,901 deaths as the country battles its largest recorded outbreak of the disease.
The latest figures from the Congolese health authorities showed that the outbreak had spread to 63 health zones across seven of the country’s 26 provinces as of 26 September.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, has surpassed the 2018–2020 epidemic, which was previously the largest Ebola outbreak recorded in the country. WHO has described the current outbreak as the largest Ebola outbreak ever reported in the DRC.
There is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment approved for Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
READ ALSO: DRC Receives 70,000 Doses Of Ebola Vaccine
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said work is underway to evaluate potential vaccines, including Ervebo, a vaccine licensed against the Zaire species of Ebola, to determine whether it could provide protection against the Bundibugyo virus.
Congolese authorities, working with WHO and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), have also launched a study to assess the potential effectiveness of Ervebo among frontline health workers.
The study is expected to provide evidence on whether the vaccine offers protection against the Bundibugyo virus, for which its effectiveness in humans remains unknown.
Meanwhile, international partners have increased financial support for the DRC’s response to the outbreak.
The European Union has announced a €7.5 million aid package to support the Ebola response, including efforts to strengthen preparedness, surveillance and long-term health-system capacity.
The United States has also announced an additional $267 million to support the response to the outbreak.
The outbreak was declared in May 2026 and remains a major public health concern, with WHO warning of the risk of further geographical expansion and cross-border transmission. The latest WHO update noted that the expansion into Sud-Ubangi and Haut-Uélé had increased the risk of cross-border transmission.
Africanews
