{
  "id": 7218592,
  "title": "Congo’s worst-ever Ebola epidemic passes 7,000 cases",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/congos-worst-ever-ebola-epidemic-passes-7-000-cases",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-14T01:25:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/09/14/world/congo-ebola-7000-cases/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing its most severe Ebola outbreak on record, with over 7,000 confirmed cases, according to data released by Congolese authorities on Saturday. Despite the virus spreading to a seventh province last week, government officials indicated that the epidemic may have peaked. The outbreak, officially identified in mid-May, has resulted in nearly 3,400 deaths, marking the 17th epidemic of the highly contagious virus in the country. Its origin lies in northeastern Ituri province, and it has since spread to conflict-ridden, remote eastern and northern regions where governmental presence is minimal and healthcare infrastructure is inadequate. The disease was recently detected in South-Ubangi, a bordering province of the Central African Republic and Republic of Congo. The latest figures show 7,022 cases, of which 3,398 have resulted in fatalities and 1,671 have recovered. The peak of the epidemic was reportedly reached at the beginning of the third week of August, according to a statement from Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya on X. He noted that \"all the indicators show a decrease in the number of cases.\" Ten out of the 61 health zones affected by the epidemic have not reported any new cases for at least 21 days. However, the majority of recorded cases are concentrated in Ituri, where Ebola infections have been found in schools following the return of students from summer holidays, causing concern among parents and health workers. Angele Magani, a mother of a student in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, expressed her anxiety, stating, \"We are very worried because we don’t know which child comes from which family or what the health status of the members of that family is.\" School officials in Bunia have implemented measures such as mandatory hand-washing with soap and maintaining a maximum of 30 pupils per classroom to mitigate the spread of the virus. Despite these efforts, concerns remain about the potential for the virus to continue its spread. Ebola, which has claimed over 15,000 lives in Africa over the past five decades, is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and can cause severe bleeding and organ failure. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. Researchers are currently testing several potential treatments and vaccines.",
  "summary": "Authorities suggested the spread of the disease may already have peaked, despite the virus having been confirmed in a seventh province recently.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}