Congo’s Ebola outbreak records one of its highest weekly death tolls yet
Summary
More than 300 people died from Ebola in eastern Congo last week, making it one of the deadliest weeks of the outbreak so far. The outbreak has quickly spread, with over 5,500 cases and 2,600 deaths reported, mostly in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces.Key Facts
- Over 300 deaths from Ebola were reported in one week in eastern Congo.
- The outbreak has 5,514 recorded cases and 2,642 deaths as of August 2026.
- The Ebola virus involved is a rare type called the Bundibugyo virus.
- This outbreak is spreading faster than any before and has more deaths at this stage than the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak.
- Nearly half of infected people have died, with higher death rates in hard-to-reach areas like North Kivu (68.6%).
- Congo received 16,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which helped in past outbreaks but its effectiveness against this virus is uncertain.
- The outbreak is complicated by rebel violence, population movements, unpaid health workers, poor roads, and misinformation.
- Experts believe the virus was spreading months before the outbreak was officially declared in May 2026.
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