Congo Reports 360 Deaths from Confirmed Ebola Cases in Ongoing Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo reported 1,274 confirmed Ebola cases, including 360 deaths, as of June 27, 2026, officials said. The outbreak, declared the country’s 17th Ebola epidemic on May 15, began after unexplained deaths were detected in Ituri Province earlier that month.

The outbreak was officially declared the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 17th Ebola epidemic on May 15, 2026, following reports of unexplained deaths in Ituri Province earlier that month, according to the Ministry of Health. The World Health Organization (WHO) subsequently designated the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16, 2026, citing the rapid spread of the disease and its cross-border transmission to neighboring Uganda.

As of June 27, 2026, the Ministry of Health reported 1,274 confirmed Ebola cases and 360 confirmed deaths, figures corroborated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in its June 28 situation update.

The ECDC also noted that 502 individuals were hospitalized in isolation due to confirmed infections. The outbreak has primarily affected Ituri Province, which accounts for 1,165 of the confirmed cases and 301 deaths, making it the worst-hit area. The epidemic has since spread to a fourth province in the northeastern region of the country, expanding the number of communities at risk.

The causative agent of the outbreak has been identified as the Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), a rare variant of the Ebola virus. WHO and national health authorities have reported that no approved therapeutics or licensed vaccines currently exist for this strain, complicating efforts to control the epidemic. Clinical management continues in isolation units, with health officials emphasizing the importance of screening and contact tracing to contain the disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed its involvement in responding to the outbreak and issued guidance advising travelers to monitor their health for 21 days after leaving affected areas and to avoid contact with individuals exhibiting symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and rash.

The outbreak’s initial detection dates back to early May 2026, when Africa CDC recorded 50 deaths linked to the emerging epidemic by May 5. By May 16, a U.S. CDC health advisory documented 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths, reflecting the outbreak’s rapid escalation within two weeks. WHO briefings highlighted ongoing challenges, including “constant burials” and intense transmission in eastern Ituri, where health workers are intensifying efforts to trace contacts and screen populations.

The epidemic’s geographic spread now encompasses much of northeastern DRC and has crossed into Uganda, affecting both countries. WHO and ECDC reports estimate that nearly 15 million people reside in the affected northeastern region of DRC, underscoring the scale of the population potentially exposed to the virus. Africa CDC has described the situation as involving “active community transmission” and has called for increased surveillance and containment measures.

Comparisons with previous outbreaks indicate that this event is smaller in scale than the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak in DRC’s North Kivu and Ituri regions, which recorded 3,481 cases and 2,299 deaths. However, the recurrence of Ebola in this corridor highlights the ongoing vulnerability of eastern DRC to such epidemics. Historical data from CDC and WHO confirm that this region has frequently been the epicenter of Ebola outbreaks, often complicated by insecurity and limited access to health services.

International response mechanisms have been activated following the WHO emergency declaration, with clinical trials for potential treatments expected to commence shortly. The CDC has assessed the likelihood of Ebola spreading to the United States as very low based on current epidemiological data and travel patterns. No cases linked to this outbreak have been reported in the United States to date.

Officials caution that the reported figures of 1,274 confirmed cases and 360 deaths may evolve as case investigations, laboratory confirmations, and contact tracing continue. The outbreak remains ongoing, with sustained transmission reported in affected areas of both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Public health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as response efforts intensify.