WHO warns Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is outpacing containment efforts

Wednesday 19 August 2026 - 11:15

By: Azzat Manal

WHO warns Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is outpacing containment efforts

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, raising concerns that the virus could spread beyond the country's borders.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during an emergency meeting that the outbreak remains far from being brought under control. He stressed that transmission is advancing faster than health teams can currently track and contain it.

The warning came after Congolese authorities reported more than 2,300 deaths among approximately 5,000 confirmed cases. The figures make the current epidemic the deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC, surpassing the previous major outbreak that occurred between 2018 and 2020.

The latest outbreak was officially declared on May 15, although health authorities believe transmission had already been occurring for several weeks. Cases have been detected in several provinces, including areas in the north and east of the country where health infrastructure remains limited.

The response is further complicated by insecurity and the presence of armed groups in parts of eastern DRC. Limited government access, damaged infrastructure and difficulties reaching remote communities can make disease surveillance, diagnosis and treatment considerably more challenging.

The WHO's Emergency Committee held its second meeting since the organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in May. The committee is expected to assess the latest epidemiological developments and determine whether additional recommendations are required.

The WHO currently considers the public-health risk to be very high nationally in the DRC. The risk is considered high in Uganda and neighboring countries, while the assessment remains lower for other parts of Africa and the rest of the world.

Cases have been reported in six provinces of the DRC, including areas close to the border with South Sudan, while infections have also been detected in Uganda. These developments have increased concerns about cross-border transmission and the need for coordinated regional surveillance.

Tedros emphasized that the risk of continued national and international spread remains significant. The speed of transmission is particularly concerning because health authorities must identify cases and contacts quickly to prevent further chains of infection.

The DRC has extensive experience responding to Ebola, having dealt with multiple outbreaks over several decades. However, the current combination of rapid transmission, weak healthcare infrastructure and insecurity presents a major challenge for national authorities and international partners.

The previous major Ebola outbreak in the DRC, from 2018 to 2020, resulted in 2,299 deaths from 3,381 confirmed cases, according to WHO figures based on Congolese data.

Globally, the deadliest Ebola epidemic occurred in West Africa between 2013 and 2016. More than 11,300 people died during that crisis, with Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea among the countries most severely affected.

As the current outbreak continues to evolve, the WHO and its partners are working to expand surveillance, strengthen medical response capacity and limit cross-border transmission. The scale and speed of the epidemic, however, underline the urgent need for sustained international cooperation.