DR Congo Records 11,042 Ebola Cases and 5,387 Deaths as Deadliest Outbreak in Its History Continues to Spread

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has recorded more than 11,000 Ebola cases and 5,387 deaths in an outbreak that has become the deadliest in the country’s history. Government figures released on Tuesday, November 10, showed that infections had reached 11,042, with the death toll approaching half the number of people infected. Health authorities are struggling to contain the disease amid armed conflict, overstretched medical facilities and difficulties reaching affected communities.

The outbreak, declared in mid-May 2026, is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. It has spread across eight of DR Congo’s 26 provinces, with Ituri and North Kivu among the worst-affected areas. The outbreak is now the second-largest and second-deadliest Ebola epidemic ever recorded, behind the 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which infected more than 28,600 people and killed over 11,000.

Efforts to stop the spread have been complicated by insecurity and weaknesses in the country’s healthcare system. Armed violence has restricted access to some communities, while poor roads and delayed detection have made it harder for medical teams to identify infections and trace people who may have been exposed. Health facilities and medical workers have also faced attacks from residents who distrust official information about the disease. Authorities have called for fighting to stop in affected areas to allow health workers to reach patients safely.

Another major concern is the absence of an approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain. The virus is estimated to kill about half of those it infects, making early detection, isolation and supportive medical care particularly important. However, the World Health Organization approved clinical trials of two new Ebola vaccine candidates earlier in November, with results expected in early 2027.

The outbreak has also spread beyond DR Congo, with cases reported in other African countries, including Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. According to health authorities, its geographical reach across East, Central and West Africa makes it the most widely spread Ebola outbreak recorded on the continent. The situation has heightened concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly in regions where people frequently travel for work, trade and family visits.

The worsening crisis has renewed calls for stronger international support, improved disease surveillance and safer access for medical teams. With thousands of lives already lost and no approved treatment specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain, containing the outbreak remains a major public health challenge for DR Congo and the wider African region.