BUNIA, Congo — The death toll from the fastest-growing recorded Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has exceeded 1,500, according to official data released on Thursday, July 30th, 2026. This marks a 50% increase in fatalities over approximately one week, underscoring the ongoing challenge in controlling the epidemic.
As of Tuesday, July 28th, 3,442 cases had been recorded with 1,521 deaths, per the latest government update. The outbreak, declared on May 15th, has been linked to the Bundibugyo virus, for which no approved vaccines or treatments currently exist.
Nearly 90% of cases are concentrated in the remote Ituri province, though infections have been confirmed in five provinces, including Kisangani, one of Congo’s largest cities. Presently, 797 patients are in isolation or hospitalized, while 615 have recovered.
Contact tracing efforts are lagging, with only about 78% of known contacts monitored nationwide, falling short of the 95% target deemed necessary to interrupt transmission.
The outbreak has resulted in more deaths at a faster rate than previous outbreaks, including the 2014-2016 epidemic that reported 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths.
The World Health Organization has stated that the global risk of spread remains low, as Ebola transmits through direct contact with bodily fluids rather than airborne routes.
Security concerns are complicating response efforts. International partners working in Ituri’s Nyakunde health zone temporarily relocated following a July 15th attack on a hospital and treatment center triggered by a patient’s death. Pierre Akilimali, Ebola response incident manager at the National Public Health Institute of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said such attacks are causing anxiety among health workers and hindering their ability to perform their duties.
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