Ebola

# Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus - Democratic Republic of the Congo ### Situation at a glance As of 23 September 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 7890 confirmed cases, including 3799 deaths, resulting in a crude case fatality ratio (CFR) of 48.1%. ### Description of the situation Since the previous [Disease Outbreak News](https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON617) was published on 11 September 2026, an additional 1133 confirmed cases, including 532 confirmed deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 23 September, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported a total of 7890 confirmed cases, including 3799 deaths (CFR 48.1%). Ituri continues to be the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for 6032 confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak, including 868 new confirmed cases reported in the previous 21 days, as of 23 September. **Figure 3: Number of deaths among confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by date of notification, as of 23 September 2026.** [](https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default-source/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/don_evd_drc_deaths_202609256fa0eafb-28aa-4034-9fe0-805f476d9985.png?sfvrsn=2239f0ee_2)

# _Notes from the Field:_ The First 100 Days of Five Ebola Outbreaks — Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and West Africa, 2007–2026 ### **Summary** The 2026 Ebola outbreak resulted in 5,458 confirmed cases and 2,606 deaths in DRC in the first 100 days after initial detection, indicating rapid growth. No previous Ebola outbreak caused >800 cases during the first 100 days. ## Investigation and Outcomes: Epidemiology of Five Outbreaks Fewer than 50 cases were identified during the first 100 days. [This outbreak](https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/outbreaks/index.html) was limited to one district in Uganda (Bundibugyo district) and ended within 6 months, with a total of 131 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases and 42 (32%) deaths in persons with confirmed, probable, or suspected Ebola disease. The second known Bundibugyo virus outbreak (species _O. bundibugyoense_) occurred in 2012 in DRC; fewer than 50 cases were identified during the first 100 days. [This outbreak](https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/outbreaks/index.html) was limited to a single health zone in DRC (Isiro health zone, Haut-Uélé province) and ended within 6 months, with 62 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases and 34 (55%) deaths in persons with confirmed, probable, and suspected Ebola disease. The initial outbreak report included 49 confirmed cases and 29 (59%) deaths. This outbreak lasted 3 years, resulting in 28,610 cases and 11,308 (40%) deaths across 10 countries, becoming the largest Ebola disease outbreak in history ( [Figure](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/mm7537e1.htm#F1_down)) ( _2_). During the first 103 days (August 1–November 11, 2018), 295 confirmed cases, 38 probable cases, and 171 (51%) deaths among persons with confirmed Ebola disease were reported across 14 health zones, primarily in eastern DRC. This outbreak resulted in 3,470 cases and 2,287 (66%) deaths over a period of 22 months ( _3_). The outbreak was declared on May 15, at which time DRC’s Ministry of Health had identified 246 suspected cases and 76 suspected deaths, in addition to eight laboratory-confirmed cases and four deaths ( _4_). During the outbreak’s first 100 days (May 14–August 21, 2026), 5,458 confirmed cases and 2,606 (48%) deaths were reported across 57 of DRC’s 519 health zones.

# DR Congo Ebola cases grow, deaths top 4,000 as officials struggle to ascertain numbers, trends October 2, 2026 The largest-ever Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached 8,300 infections and [4,018 deaths](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebola-deaths-congo-4000-fastest-growing-outbreak-history/), as a Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff member is evacuated after testing positive for the virus. Fifty healthcare workers have died of Ebola since the outbreak was declared in May, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said in a [special briefing](https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1MJgNbOXDNYGL) yesterday. Weekly deaths are now at 192, down from a peak of 364 in mid-August. ## Related news [**Ebola kills 3,000 in DR Congo as control efforts aren’t measuring up**\ \ September 2, 2026\ \ Stephanie Soucheray\ \ ](https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/ebola-kills-3000-dr-congo-control-efforts-aren-t-measuring) [**DR Congo Ebola outbreak tops 8,000 cases, with 48% death rate**\ \ September 28, 2026\ \ Stephanie Soucheray\ \ ](https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-tops-8000-cases-48-death-rate) [**Ebola kills 3,000 in DR Congo as control efforts aren’t measuring up**\ \ September 2, 2026\ \ Stephanie Soucheray\ \ ](https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/ebola-kills-3000-dr-congo-control-efforts-aren-t-measuring) [**DR Congo Ebola outbreak tops 8,000 cases, with 48% death rate**\ \ September 28, 2026\ \ Stephanie Soucheray\ \ ](https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-tops-8000-cases-48-death-rate) [**Ebola kills 3,000 in DR Congo as control efforts aren’t measuring up**\ \ September 2, 2026\ \ Stephanie Soucheray\ \ ](https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/ebola-kills-3000-dr-congo-control-efforts-aren-t-measuring) ## This week's top reads 3. [**Suspected plague incident leaves 1 dead, 200 under quarantine in Siberia**\ \ Russia has yet to confirm what caused the lab worker’s death.\ \ Stephanie Soucheray\ \ October 5, 2026\ \ ](https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/plague/suspected-plague-incident-leaves-1-dead-200-under-quarantine-siberia)

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has now killed more than 4,000 people, according to government data, making it the [worst epidemic in the country’s history](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/17/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-becomes-deadliest-in-countrys-history). Figures released on Friday showed that the death toll has risen to 4,018, and confirmed cases had ⁠reached 8,300 across seven provinces, as the government continues to struggle to contain the outbreak. ## Recommended Stories - list 3 of 4 [Ebola cases surpass 8,000 as DRC struggles to control outbreak](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/28/ebola-cases-surpass-8000-as-drc-struggles-to-control-outbreak) His house was set on fire afterwards, and he died at hospital from his injuries. The World Health Organization has warned that the epidemic is “ [far from over](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/16/ebola-fight-in-drc-far-from-over-warns-who-chief)” and on track to surpass the regional 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people, primarily in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

As of August 21, 2026, DRC reported 5,458 confirmed cases and 2,606 (48%) confirmed deaths. Compared with previous Ebola outbreaks, the increase in cases in ...

2 hours ago · On 5 October 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported a total of 8 603 confirmed cases, including 4 148 related deaths (from data up until ...