Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

As of July 4, 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing its 17th Ebola outbreak, which was officially declared on May 15. Reports on casualty figures vary, with one source citing 1,502 laboratory-confirmed cases and 473 deaths, while the national health institute (INSP) reported 1,406 cases and 438 deaths. The current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine or treatment currently exists. Infections have been identified in eastern provinces near South Sudan and Uganda, with a recent case confirmed in the city of Kisangani. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that clinical trials for two potential treatments have commenced with the enrollment of the first volunteer patient. Historical context shows the virus has killed at least 15,000 people in Africa over the last 50 years, with mortality rates ranging from 25% to 90%. Authorities note that the full scale of the crisis remains difficult to assess.