{
  "id": 17179,
  "title": "DR Congo Ebola outbreak becomes world's second-largest ever",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-becomes-worlds-second-largest-ever",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-07-31T17:56:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW News",
    "slug": "dw-news",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-becomes-world-s-second-largest-ever/a-78196627?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently facing its second-largest Ebola outbreak ever, surpassing the total number of cases recorded during the country's deadliest epidemic from 2018 to 2020. This new outbreak has confirmed 3,532 cases and 1,556 deaths across five provinces. UN World Food Programme's acting executive director, Carl Skau, expressed concern over the situation, stating that this is the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic ever seen. The outbreak is believed to be caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists yet. However, research on a promising vaccine developed by Singapore-based Hilleman Laboratories and a separate one by the University of Oxford is gaining momentum. The virus has spread to four other provinces, raising concerns due to ongoing instability in eastern regions of the DRC, particularly in areas controlled by the M23 rebel group.",
  "summary": "DR Congo’s fast-spreading Ebola outbreak has exceeded 3,500 cases, overtaking the country’s deadliest epidemic and becoming the world’s second-largest ever. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or treatment.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour Health",
        "title": "Uganda declares itself Ebola-free as Congo continues to struggle with the outbreak",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/30/uganda-declares-itself-ebola-free-as-congo-continues-to-struggle-with",
        "published": "2026-07-30T00:42:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Deutsche Welle Science",
        "title": "DR Congo Ebola outbreak becomes world's second-largest ever",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-becomes-worlds-second-largest-ever-18396",
        "published": "2026-07-31T17:56:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Current Ebola outbreak worst ever in DR Congo, WHO says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/01/current-ebola-outbreak-worst-ever-in-dr-congo-who-says",
        "published": "2026-08-01T16:16:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ETHealthworld",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in DR Congo 'intensifying': WHO",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-intensifying-who",
        "published": "2026-08-02T07:45:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}