Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reported a sharp rise in Ebola infections, with confirmed cases reaching 782 and deaths climbing to 181, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health on 14 June 2026.
The outbreak, which was officially confirmed on 15 May 2026 but is believed to have started earlier, is concentrated in the eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for more than 90 per cent of cases. Additional infections have been recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu, with cross-border spread also reported in neighbouring Uganda.
Officials say the outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment, unlike the more commonly known Zaire strain responsible for previous outbreaks in the country.
So far, 56 people have recovered, while the current fatality rate stands at 23 per cent. However, health authorities warn that the actual number of infections may be higher due to delayed confirmation of the outbreak and reduced contact tracing coverage, which has fallen to 56 per cent.
Response efforts are being hampered by ongoing insecurity in eastern Congo, where conflict has displaced nearly one million people in Ituri alone. Frequent population movement, dense forest terrain, poor road infrastructure and remote settlements continue to slow down contact tracing and medical response operations.
Authorities also report growing challenges including attacks on health workers, public mistrust, and the mobility of artisanal miners who frequently move between remote mining sites in the region.
International attention has also increased, with U.S. officials previously announcing plans to manage exposed citizens at a quarantine facility in Kenya, a proposal that later faced public protests and legal challenges.