The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has claimed more than 500 lives, with health officials warning that the situation is becoming increasingly severe.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 506 people have died and 1,561 confirmed Ebola cases have been recorded as of July 4, 2026. Neighboring Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths.
The current outbreak, officially declared on May 15, is the DR Congo's 17th Ebola epidemic and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists.
Health authorities have launched clinical trials of two experimental treatments and approved the emergency use of the first molecular diagnostic test for the virus. However, officials are still searching for the outbreak's first known patient and continue tracing thousands of people who may have been exposed.
The response has also been affected by insecurity in eastern DR Congo, making surveillance and contact tracing difficult, especially in Ituri Province, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Meanwhile, frontline health workers have threatened to begin a strike, citing unpaid allowances, poor salaries, inadequate protective equipment, and difficult working conditions.
The WHO has warned that the first month of this outbreak was the deadliest on record, with mortality rates exceeding 50 percent in some affected areas. Despite ongoing response efforts, health officials remain concerned about the continued spread of the virus.
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