The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a severe shortage of health workers as it battles an Ebola outbreak that has spread to seven provinces, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Government figures showed 7,773 confirmed cases and 3,759 deaths. Cases in North Kivu increased by 73 per cent between August 31 and September 20, although they fell by 26 per cent in Ituri and 15 per cent in Haut-Uele during the same period.
The WHO said the outbreak remained uncontrolled despite declining infections and deaths in some areas. Insecurity, displacement, population movements and strikes by health workers over unpaid wages have complicated the response.
Although authorities are adding treatment beds, facilities lack enough personnel to operate them. The WHO said a single Ebola treatment centre required about 300 professionals, including nurses, doctors, anaesthetists and hygienists.
Children under five face the greatest risk, with a fatality rate exceeding 60 per cent, compared with about 40 per cent among adults. Detecting infections in young children is also difficult because they may be unable to explain their symptoms clearly.
The outbreak is on course to surpass the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people, mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.