The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is on track to surpass the deadliest recorded outbreak of the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on August 13, 2026, that the 2026 outbreak, "at its current pace," would "eclipse" the 2014-2016 epidemic, which killed at least 11,000 people. The outbreak, officially declared on May 15, 2026, has already seen at least 4,300 reported cases and caused more than 2,000 deaths.

The epidemic is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, previously responsible for only two known outbreaks in 2007 and 2012. Health workers are currently reaching only about 30% of cases, complicating efforts to control the spread.

WHO Africa director Dr Mohamed Janabi, speaking at a news conference in Bunia near the outbreak's center, said, "We are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us." Research indicates the virus began spreading in February 2026 but was initially misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid.

The WHO expressed hope to reverse the disease's spread within three months, clarifying that this goal means bringing transmission under control rather than ending the outbreak entirely. Symptoms of Ebola typically appear within two to 21 days of infection.

Health officials noted that although the outbreak was officially declared in May, it likely began at least three months earlier.

Sources