The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing the worst Ebola outbreak in its history. According to the latest figures released by Congolese authorities, the virus has now caused more than 3,000 deaths, far surpassing the country’s previous record set between 2018 and 2020.
Declared on May 15, the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rare variant for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists. As of August 31, the Congolese National Institute of Public Health reported 6,186 confirmed cases and 3,007 deaths, a fatality rate of 48.6 percent. Around 1,409 people have recovered. In the most recent reporting period alone, 86 new cases were logged, 49 of them in Ituri and 32 in North Kivu, along with 57 additional deaths.
Originating in the remote province of Ituri in the country’s northeast, the disease has since spread to six provinces, hitting Ituri and North Kivu hardest, where transmission remains intense. Both regions face compounding challenges, with a weak state presence and chronic insecurity fueled by armed groups, factors that have seriously hampered the health response.
The scale of the crisis has alarmed international organizations. In August, when the death toll had already passed 2,300, the UN’s humanitarian affairs chief, Tom Fletcher, warned that the virus was killing someone in the country every thirty minutes, urging the international community to mobilize urgently. Months earlier, the World Health Organization had declared a public health emergency of international concern, while the African Union voiced concern that the outbreak was spreading faster than any previous one.
On the ground, the response effort is struggling for resources as case numbers surge. In parts of North Kivu, isolation facilities have reported occupancy rates exceeding 129 percent. Adding to this logistical strain is persistent distrust among some local communities, a recurring obstacle that has also slowed past efforts to fight the virus in the DRC.
Health authorities point to several combined factors behind the disease’s continued spread, including population movements, artisanal mining activity, and cross-border trade with Uganda and South Sudan, all of which help carry the virus beyond national borders.