The Bundibugyo virus outbreak has surpassed the previous record, with 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths as insecurity and population movement hamper containment efforts
The World Health Organisation has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the largest ever recorded in the country, with 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths reported as of July 30, 2026.
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The DRC Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, has recorded a fatality rate of about 44 per cent and continues to intensify, with sustained transmission, rising deaths and cases spreading across a wider geographic area.
The WHO issued the warning on Saturday, describing the situation as an increasingly serious public health emergency requiring a substantial expansion of response operations.
“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,” the organisation said.
The latest figures represent a significant escalation beyond the previous largest Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which occurred between 2018 and 2020.
That outbreak recorded nearly 3,500 cases, with almost 2,300 deaths.
The current outbreak was officially declared on May 15, 2026, after the Bundibugyo virus was detected in the country.
The pace of transmission has also accelerated sharply. According to the WHO, the outbreak recorded its highest weekly total during the past week, with 567 new cases and 296 deaths.
The organisation said the combination of rising infections, increasing mortality and expanding geographical spread highlighted the “growing nature” of the health emergency.
The epicentre of the outbreak is in Ituri Province in northeastern DRC, a region that shares borders with Uganda and South Sudan.
The location has raised concerns about the potential for cross-border transmission, particularly as people continue to move between communities and across national boundaries.
The WHO said insecurity, population displacement and cross-border movement were hampering response efforts and increasing the risk of the virus spreading further.
“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 organisation said.
The warning comes as neighbouring Uganda marks the end of its own Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak, although health authorities remain on alert because of continued transmission in the DRC.
On July 28, Uganda’s Ministry of Health declared the end of the country’s outbreak after 42 days without a new confirmed locally transmitted case.
The declaration followed the discharge of Uganda’s last confirmed patient from care on June 16, after which no further locally transmitted infections were identified during the required monitoring period.
However, the WHO said Uganda’s exposure to the virus had not ended.
The most recent imported case was discharged from a treatment centre on July 16 after returning two negative test results.
Under international guidance, WHO officials will continue monitoring the situation for 42 days from that date to ensure that no undetected chains of transmission remain.
“Uganda remains at risk of imported cases and re-introduction of BVD, due to ongoing transmission in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo,” the WHO said.
The organisation urged Uganda to maintain heightened surveillance, preparedness and control measures, particularly because of continued population movement and the risk of cross-border transmission.
The contrasting situations in the two neighbouring countries highlight the difficulty of containing infectious diseases in regions where communities regularly cross national borders and where insecurity can restrict access to affected populations.
While Uganda has reached a significant milestone by ending its latest outbreak, the continuing spread in northeastern DRC presents a persistent threat to the wider region.
The WHO’s latest assessment therefore places renewed pressure on Congolese authorities and international partners to intensify surveillance, case detection, treatment and community engagement.
With more than 3,600 confirmed cases and over 1,500 deaths already recorded, the outbreak has surpassed the previous record and entered a critical phase.
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The organisation’s warning that transmission is accelerating underlines the urgency of strengthening the response before the virus spreads further across the DRC’s borders and into neighbouring countries.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
