DR Congo: Ebola death figure rises to 1,887

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed 1,887 lives and infected 4,120 individuals, according to the latest government data released on Sunday. This marks the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, surpassed only by the 2014-16 West Africa epidemic. The disease, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, emerged in northeastern Congo in May and has since spread to multiple provinces.

The death toll has surged from the 4,053 confirmed cases and 1,850 deaths reported as of Aug. 5-6, signaling an alarming escalation in just a few days. The World Health Organisation's July 30 update recorded 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths, underscoring the outbreak's rapid acceleration.

Confirmed cases have been reported across five provinces - Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé and Tshopo - involving dozens of health zones. The fatality rate currently stands at 45.8%. No Ebola cases have been detected among passengers on a river boat placed in quarantine near Kinshasa, easing concerns about the virus spreading to the capital.

Despite this positive development, health authorities remain vigilant. Over 200 boat passengers were placed in quarantine in the port of Maluku after one traveler who had been onboard died with symptoms matching Ebola. However, all suspected cases tested negative for the Bundibugyo virus at the National Institute of Biomedical Research, urging the population of Kinshasa to remain calm.

The WHO Director-General has called for an urgent strengthening of the response, warning of the outbreak's accelerating spread. On May 17, 2026, the WHO officially declared the Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. In response, the WHO, in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, launched a joint $518 million continental preparedness and response plan.