As of September 26, 2026, the DRC had recorded 8,067 confirmed cases and 3,901 deaths, putting the case fatality rate at approximately 48.4 percent. A total of 2,070 patients have recovered.
A Geographically Dispersing Epidemic
The outbreak has now affected 63 health zones across seven provinces, with the latest geographic expansion including newly affected areas in Sud-Ubangi and Haut-Uele. The WHO said this expansion has increased the risk of cross-border transmission.
"The outbreak remains uncontrolled and increasingly geographically dispersed," the WHO stated in its latest Disease Outbreak News, warning that the expansion was putting further pressure on already stretched response resources.
While transmission has declined gradually in Ituri Province, the original epicentre, from a mid-August peak, North Kivu Province has seen a substantial rise, reaching its highest reported level in mid-September. Sustained transmission also continues in Haut-Uele, while renewed transmission activity has been reported in Tshopo.
Community Deaths Highlight Detection Gaps
The WHO expressed particular concern about the high proportion of deaths occurring in communities rather than at treatment centres.
"The continuously high case fatality ratio, and especially the continuous high rate of deaths occurring in communities, highlights the seriousness of the disease and the persistent challenges in timely case detection and access to early and adequate patient care," the agency said.
A Dangerous Environment for Responders
The outbreak is unfolding in a region marked by armed conflict, population displacement and widespread mistrust of health authorities. These conditions have created a dangerous environment for those working to contain the virus.
On Sunday, September 27, Marie-Celestin Karondwa, a senior member of the ruling UDPS party in Butembo, was beaten to death after appearing on a radio programme to raise awareness about Ebola prevention measures. His attackers stole his belongings and set his house on fire. The party described him as "an innocent victim for having defended the party's position on the existence of the Ebola virus disease and the threat it poses to the population."
The killing follows a series of attacks on healthcare workers and treatment centres, fuelled by rumours and misinformation about the disease. On Saturday, armed men attacked a hand-washing checkpoint in nearby Beni Territory, killing at least one person and wounding several others.
Treatment Capacity Under Strain
At the Kitatumba Ebola Treatment Centre in Butembo, health workers are struggling to keep pace with the caseload. The facility, which opened on June 30, has admitted 239 patients, including 113 confirmed Ebola cases. Thirty-six patients have recovered, while another 104 unconfirmed cases have been discharged.
"We are consistently operating above 100 percent occupancy," said Toussin Selemani, head of medical activities in Butembo for Médecins Sans Frontières. "We continue to advocate for an increase in our patient intake capacity."
Kakule Kihasaki Samson, medical director of the treatment centre, described the challenge: "In Butembo alone, there are sometimes as many as ten cases a day. This population, long-suffering and traumatized, lives in a state of deep distress, fuelling resistance to care and humanitarian measures. Some have not fully understood the reality of the disease, leading to resistance against response teams and failure to observe safety measures."
Vaccine and Treatment Trials Underway
There is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus responsible for this outbreak. However, clinical trials are progressing.
The PARTNERS trial, a platform adaptive randomized trial for filovirus treatments, has started operations at three sites in Ituri province, with over 50 Ebola patients enrolled. The trial is investigating three potential therapeutic approaches, including MBP134, a monoclonal antibody treatment developed from a survivor of the 2013-2016 West African Ebola outbreak.
Separately, the first Bundibugyo strain-specific vaccine candidate, developed by Oxford University and the Serum Institute of India, has entered Phase 1 clinical trials in the United Kingdom. Moderna has also started a Phase 1 trial for its mRNA vaccine candidate, mRNA-1469, at three sites in Canada.
Calls for Increased Support
MSF has warned that its teams alone cannot contain an outbreak of this scale. The organisation is calling for a significant increase in operational support from UN agencies, particularly WHO, to strengthen all pillars of the Ebola response—especially in areas beyond the main operational hubs where response capacities remain limited.
"The outbreak is not shrinking, it is moving," said Anthony Kergosien, MSF's emergency coordinator in Bunia. "Our strategy is about detecting and trying to contain new clusters early, before they grow into large outbreaks. But a more responsive and comprehensive engagement is urgently needed."
With reporting from the World Health Organization, the Guardian, Xinhua, ReliefWeb, and Médecins Sans Frontières.
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