A village chief in Congo works to overcome Ebola prejudice even as the disease kills his relatives

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently experiencing a severe Ebola outbreak, with the health ministry reporting between 50 and 80 new confirmed cases daily. As of the latest figures, the outbreak has reached approximately 10,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths. WHO's Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed these statistics during an interview with ARISE NEWS.

He emphasized that the situation remains dire, as the outbreak has affected about 1,000 square kilometers in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country, including Ituri and North Kivu provinces. The current outbreak began on May 15, 2026, and has been ongoing for six months, making it the 17th Ebola outbreak in the country.

Congolese health authorities have estimated the fatality rate at 45.9 percent, a warning that the outbreak has yet to reach its peak. The World Health Organisation's Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, highlighted that many infected individuals are dying at home without reaching health workers, resulting in only 30 percent of cases being detected.

Due to the lack of a specific approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain causing this outbreak, WHO vaccine experts recommended a full-scale human trial to assess the Ervebo vaccine's effectiveness against the Bundibugyo strain.