Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo cross ten thousand in its largest outbreak

29 October 2026

The World Health Organization said sustained effort is still needed as the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo passed ten thousand cases.
The country's health ministry counted 10,141 cases, nearly five thousand deaths and more than two thousand six hundred recoveries across eight provinces.
This is the seventeenth Ebola outbreak recorded in that country, the largest it has ever had and the second largest anywhere after the West Africa outbreak of 2014 to 2016.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is no licensed vaccine or treatment at present.
A vaccine trial named TUMAINI, a Swahili word for hope, has begun at Bunia and will first test whether an existing Ebola vaccine protects people in this outbreak.
Doses are being given by ring vaccination, which means vaccinating the close contacts of each confirmed patient.
Neighbouring Kenya has reported nine cases and two deaths, and expert groups convened by the agency are reviewing two vaccines designed specifically for this strain.