KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – According to official data through Aug. 7, the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has resulted in 1,916 fatalities and 4,209 confirmed cases. The death toll has increased by 29 from the 1,887 reported in the previous update. Additionally, health authorities have identified 595 individuals receiving care in isolation, and another 828 people have recovered from the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.
The epidemic continues to be centered in Ituri, with 3,636 confirmed cases and 1,551 fatalities. In North Kivu, there are 470 cases and 315 deaths recorded. Haut Uele has reported 91 cases and 44 deaths, while Tshopo reports nine cases and five deaths. South Kivu has documented three cases and one death. Overall, 53 out of 140 health zones across the five affected provinces have been impacted by the outbreak.
The most recent daily update noted 89 new confirmed cases and 21 new deaths, adding to the national totals. Of these, 73 infections were in Ituri, while North Kivu accounted for 12 and Haut Uele for four. Authorities have stated that 83.4% of identified contacts are being followed up across the affected regions. Efforts by health teams to review and harmonize case and mortality data continue as surveillance records are updated.
Expansion of Bundibugyo outbreak across eastern regions
The Democratic Republic of the Congo identified the outbreak in May after laboratory testing confirmed Bundibugyo virus. On May 17, the World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The virus can cause symptoms such as fever, weakness, body pain, vomiting, and other severe conditions, with some patients developing bleeding. This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the country since the virus was first discovered in 1976.
The Ministry of Health in Congo has mobilized response efforts that focus on surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, and providing clinical care. Infection control protocols and safe burial practices are being implemented to limit transmission, particularly in communities affected by insecurity and high population movement in parts of eastern Congo. Health workers continue to monitor contacts and investigate suspected cases across affected areas and along major travel routes.
No Approved Vaccine Exists for Bundibugyo Virus
In contrast to the Zaire strain of Ebola, Bundibugyo virus currently lacks a licensed vaccine or specifically approved treatment. Supportive medical care, including hydration, symptom management, and close clinical monitoring, remains the primary approach. Several research programs are exploring candidate vaccines and investigational therapies. Surveillance outside Congo has also identified infections; by late July, Uganda had recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with no new confirmed cases reported after June 21.
These latest statistics indicate that the 2026 epidemic has become the largest outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus documented to date. Transmission remains mainly concentrated in DR Congo, especially in Ituri and North Kivu. Despite expanded efforts in surveillance, isolation, and contact monitoring across affected health zones, the total number of cases and deaths continues to grow. Authorities are maintaining laboratory testing, patient management, case detection, and infection control measures while updating the national figures as new surveillance data are collected.