Ebola Outbreak in Congo is Now the Country's Deadliest on Record
- Human Rights Research Center
- 3 minutes ago
- 5 min read
August ##, 2026
Author: Tasreba Chowdhury
HRRC urges global and regional agencies to swiftly mobilize resources to address the rapidly worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Measures should be taken to increase the rate of case identification and contact tracing, as well as to address the challenges posed to treatment and response efforts. Continued support should be provided for clinical trials working to develop treatments and possible vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain.
![[Image Credit: UN Photo/Martine Perret via Openverse]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d0bbf9_b31340f09313455482acee89b8a0e0bb~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_512,h_340,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/d0bbf9_b31340f09313455482acee89b8a0e0bb~mv2.png)
On Monday, August 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now become the country’s deadliest Ebola outbreak on record. The disease has now killed more than 2,500 people, surpassing what was previously the deadliest outbreak from 2018-2020, with currently over 4,900 confirmed cases.
The current outbreak is on track to exceed West Africa’s 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, which involved 11,310 deaths out of 28,616 cases; however, the current outbreak in DRC is taking lives at a faster rate, with a current fatality rate of 46%.
The current outbreak is being caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, which was first identified in Uganda in 2007. While there have been some vaccines and treatments developed for the more common Zaire strain, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain. The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that clinical trials for 2 possible treatments began last month in Ituri, with two vaccines for this strain now being tested.
The outbreak was first identified in Ituri province, with six of DRC’s 26 provinces now affected, mainly along the north-eastern border of the country. Genomic sequencing indicated that the outbreak started as early as February 2026 in the mining town of Mongbwalu.
According to WHO, the outbreak has been “outpacing the response.” Thomas Parisch, a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) public health specialist who was recently deployed to the DRC, noted that the fatality ratio should decrease as patients are identified and treated earlier with better contact tracing. However, the DRC is continuing to see many cases that are being detected late, including many that are identified only after they die in the community. Reliance on laboratories outside Ituri province slowed case identification, prompting the expansion of laboratory capacity, with more than 12 laboratories now operating in Ituri.
The response to this outbreak has been affected by challenges facing healthcare facilities in the area. Difficult terrain has limited efficient transportation and access to some communities. This has also been exacerbated by armed conflict groups fighting for control over mineral-rich areas. Furthermore, attacks on healthcare facilities as well as strikes by some unpaid healthcare workers have impeded responses. Additionally, misinformation about the virus, treatment, as well as burial practices has made people hesitant to seek out treatment.
The United Nations (UN) and other global organizations have announced response plans to address the outbreak. In June, WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention created a response plan to support essential health services, while the UN’s humanitarian aid office, OCHA, has allocated $54.5 million to help ramp up response efforts.
Last week, in response to the DRC government’s request, the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG) provided 70,000 doses of the Erbevo vaccine, which targets the Zaire strain. The ICG allocated 20,000 doses for a phase 3 clinical trial and 50,000 doses for health and frontline workers. Evidence from the clinical trial is expected to provide understanding of how the vaccine impacts the Bundibugyo strain.
A UN official warned that if the response does not ramp up, the outbreak could spread to neighboring countries. This further necessitates more distribution of resources, especially to remote areas.
Glossary
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention- specialized technical institution of the African Union established to support public health initiatives of Member States and strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions to detect, prevent, control and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats.
Armed conflict- covers all cases of declared war and other de facto armed conflict between two or more States, even if the state of war is not recognised by one of them and/or the use of armed force is unilateral.
Clinical trial- a type of research that studies new tests and treatments and evaluates their effects on human health outcomes.
Contact tracing- the process of finding any other people that an infected person has met or had close contact with, usually in order to control the spread of an infectious disease.
Detect- to notice something that is partly hidden or not clear, or to discover something, especially using a special method.
Disease outbreak- the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographical area, or season.
Ebola- a virus that causes severe inflammation and tissue damage throughout the body. It is known as a hemorrhagic fever virus because it can cause problems with the clotting system of the body and lead to internal bleeding, as blood leaks from small blood vessels. Ebola is spread through direct contact with body fluids ― blood, saliva, sweat, tears, mucus, vomit, feces, breast milk, urine and semen ― of people infected with it. It is also spread by touching things that have been contaminated with these fluids.
Exacerbate- to make something that is already bad even worse.
Fatality rate- the number of people within a particular group who are killed by a particular cause.
Frontline- working in a job that involves dealing with ordinary people and real problems.
Genomic sequencing- a laboratory method that is used to determine the entire genetic makeup of a specific organism or cell type. This method can be used to find changes in areas of the genome. These changes may help scientists understand how specific diseases, such as cancer, form. Results of genomic sequencing may also be used to diagnose and treat disease.
Healthcare facility- locations that provide access to a range of medical services, including emergency and routine care, and are characterized by their geographic distribution and the specific capabilities and services they offer.
International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG)- a mechanism to manage and coordinate the provision of emergency vaccine supplies and antibiotics to countries during major outbreaks.
Laboratory- a room or building with scientific equipment for doing scientific tests or for teaching science, or a place where chemicals or medicines are produced.
Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders- international humanitarian group dedicated to providing medical care to people in distress, including victims of political violence and natural disasters.
Mineral-rich- used to describe countries, areas, etc. that contain a lot of minerals.
Misinformation- false information that is shared inadvertently, without meaning to cause harm.
OCHA- part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.
Outpace- to move or develop faster than someone or something else.
Province- one of the areas that a country or empire is divided into as part of the organization of its government, which sometimes has some control over its own laws.
Public health- aims to prevent illness and injury in whole communities and populations. It seeks large-scale, evidence-based solutions to help all people live longer, healthier lives.
Vaccine- a medical treatment that helps the body’s immune system recognize and fight disease.
Virus strain- a viral population maintained within a specific host reservoir in a defined geographical area, distinguishable from other viral populations. It can be identified using antigenic or genetic methods to differentiate between closely related variants.
Specialist- someone who has a lot of experience, knowledge, or skill in a particular subject.
Terrain- an area of land, when considering its natural features.
World Health Organization (WHO)- the United Nations agency dedicated to global health and safety.
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