The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the largest ever recorded in the country’s history.
In an update shared on its official X account on Saturday, the global health agency said the outbreak continues to worsen, citing sustained transmission, increasing infections and a growing death toll.
According to the WHO, the outbreak, which is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, was officially declared on May 15, 2026. As of July 30, health authorities had confirmed 3,605 cases and 1,587 deaths, representing a fatality rate of 44 per cent.
The current outbreak has now exceeded the country’s previous largest Ebola epidemic, recorded between 2018 and 2020, which resulted in nearly 3,500 confirmed infections and almost 2,300 deaths.
The WHO said, “The Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak in the DRC is intensifying, with sustained transmission, rising cases and deaths, and expanding geographic spread. This is now the largest Ebola outbreak ever reported in the country.
As of 30 July 2026, 3605 confirmed cases and 1587 deaths have been reported. The continued rise in cases, widening spread, and high mortality highlight the growing nature of this public health emergency. During the past week, the outbreak reached its highest weekly total, with 567 cases and 296 deaths, underscoring the exceptional pace of transmission.
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Factors like insecurity, population displacement, and cross-border movement continue to hamper response efforts and increase the risk of further spread. While national authorities, WHO, and partners are implementing extensive response measures, a substantial scale-up of operations across all activities is needed to get ahead of the outbreak.”
The outbreak remains concentrated in Ituri Province in the northeastern part of the DRC, a region that shares borders with Uganda and South Sudan.
Meanwhile, the WHO noted that Uganda officially declared an end to its Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak on July 28 after recording no new locally transmitted infections for 42 consecutive days following the discharge of its last confirmed local patient on June 16, 2026.
“The most recent imported case was discharged from a treatment centre on 16 July after two negative tests results. Following international guidance WHO will be monitoring the situation for 42 days from this date to ensure no chains of transmission have been missed.
“Uganda remains at risk of imported cases and re-introduction of BVD, due to ongoing transmission in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO reiterates the need to maintain heightened surveillance, preparedness and control measures, particularly in view of continued population movement and the risk of cross-border transmission,” the WHO stated.