The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is confronting its deadliest Ebola outbreak after 100 days of transmission, with the epidemic continuing to spread across several provinces despite intensified response efforts.
Official figures indicate that 5,375 people have been infected and 2,557 have died, putting the case-fatality rate at about 47.6 per cent.
At least 1,167 patients have recovered, while 737 others remain hospitalised in isolation units as health teams race to identify cases, trace contacts and prevent further transmission.
The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, 2026, after cases were detected in Ituri Province.
It is being caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
The scale of the outbreak has already surpassed the previous record of 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018–2020 Ebola epidemic in the DRC.
The latest outbreak has also become one of the largest Ebola epidemics ever recorded globally, second only to the devastating West Africa outbreak of 2014–2016.
Transmission has spread across six provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo and Bas-Uélé. Health officials say the affected territory now covers an area larger than France.
UN Senior Ebola Coordinator Julien Harneis, speaking to reporters from Bunia in Ituri, described the situation as increasingly dangerous.
“The epidemic is growing exponentially,” Harneis said.
He warned that half of the deaths had occurred within the previous 20 days, underscoring the speed at which the outbreak is expanding.
“The epidemic is spreading to an area that is bigger than France,” he said.
Harneis added that the outbreak was “growing faster and wider than the Ebola response.”
Responders are facing serious logistical and security challenges, particularly in eastern DRC, where conflict, poor roads and attacks on health workers have complicated efforts to reach affected communities.
Harneis described the operating environment as “brutal”, citing insecurity, weak basic services, attacks on frontline workers and health facilities, and difficulties moving funds to areas experiencing the outbreak.
He also issued an urgent appeal for international assistance.
“We’re only covered for the next weeks, and very soon funding will run out,” Harneis said.
“Every delay in funding and implementation makes this epidemic more deadly, more difficult to stop and more expensive. So, we need that international support immediately.”
Health workers have also been severely affected, with around 160 infections and more than 40 deaths reported among frontline personnel.
The outbreak is believed to have circulated for months before it was officially declared, with early infections linked to the mining town of Mongbwalu in Ituri.
Community transmission remains a major concern, particularly because many people are dying outside treatment centres.
This has made it harder for health teams to identify cases, isolate patients and trace people who may have been exposed.
Although contact tracing has improved in some areas, response teams continue to face significant gaps.
Neighbouring Uganda has also reported limited infections, while imported cases detected outside Africa have been managed by health authorities.
International organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), have urged a faster and more flexible response that puts communities at the centre of containment efforts.
MSF International President Dr Javid Abdelmoneim warned that the virus was continuing to move faster than the response.
“This epidemic continues to spread, moving faster than the response can keep up,” Abdelmoneim said.
Health teams are continuing to isolate patients, conduct safe burials, trace contacts, strengthen infection prevention measures and provide care for survivors.
But responders warn that without urgent funding, equipment, specialised personnel and stronger community engagement, the outbreak could become even harder to control.
The 100-day milestone therefore comes as a warning that the DRC’s Ebola crisis is not slowing down.
