{
  "id": 1404674,
  "title": "Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo becomes deadliest in country's history",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ebola-outbreak-in-democratic-republic-of-congo-becomes-deadliest-in",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-17T02:57:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40435157/ebola-outbreak-in-democratic-republic-of-congo-becomes-deadliest-in-countrys-history"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed 2,325 lives, making it the deadliest outbreak in the country's history, according to government data released on Sunday. This surpasses the death toll from the previous 2018-2020 outbreak, which previously held the grim record. As of the latest report, there have been 4,945 confirmed cases, with 101 new cases detected in the previous 24 hours. The outbreak, Congo's 17th, has also become the largest in terms of case numbers, reaching this milestone in late July. The total death count now exceeds the 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018-2020 outbreak, previously the worst in the country's history. The current Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species, has no approved vaccines or treatments. It has gained speed since its declaration on May 15, hampered by weak health infrastructure, community resistance, and instability. The case fatality ratio, the proportion of people dying after a confirmed infection, has risen from around 20% in early June to 46%. This increase does not suggest the virus has become more lethal; rather, it indicates ongoing issues with surveillance, detection, and access to care. Global health authorities have declared a public health emergency as the outbreak has claimed more than 80 lives in Congo, with experimental vaccines and therapies being evaluated, though evidence is still limited to animal studies. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, both living and deceased, causing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe cases leading to internal and external bleeding.",
  "summary": "The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 2,325 people, government data showed on Sunday, surpassing the toll from the 2018-2020 outbreak to become the deadliest in the country’s history. Congo’s public health institute said in its latest report that confirmed cases had risen to 4,945, including 101 new cases detected in the previous 24 hours. Estimated DR Congo Ebola death…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour Science",
        "title": "Congo Ebola outbreak on track to become deadliest in history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/congo-ebola-outbreak-on-track-to-become-deadliest-in-history-920395",
        "published": "2026-08-14T22:45:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Mothership",
        "title": "Current Ebola outbreak on track to be deadliest with 2,000 deaths recorded: WHO chief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/current-ebola-outbreak-on-track-to-be-deadliest-with-2-000-deaths",
        "published": "2026-08-15T18:57:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in DR Congo now deadliest in country's history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-now-deadliest-in-countrys-history",
        "published": "2026-08-16T22:05:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "World : Dr Congo Ebola Outbreak Deadliest In History As Death Toll Rises To 2,300",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/world-dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-deadliest-in-history-as-death-toll",
        "published": "2026-08-16T22:44:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in DR Congo becomes deadliest in country’s history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-becomes-deadliest-in-countrys-history",
        "published": "2026-08-16T23:17:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in Congo becomes deadliest in country’s history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ebola-outbreak-in-congo-becomes-deadliest-in-countrys-history",
        "published": "2026-08-17T03:26:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo becomes deadliest in country’s history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ebola-outbreak-in-democratic-republic-of-congo-becomes-deadliest-in-1407202",
        "published": "2026-08-17T03:26:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}