Ebola outbreak in DR Congo becomes largest in country’s history – WHO

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing the largest Ebola outbreak in its history, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The country has recorded 10,668 confirmed cases and 5,198 deaths as of 3 November 2026.

The outbreak has spread across 67 health zones in eight provinces, with active transmission continuing in 51 health zones as of 3 November 2026.

The WHO disclosed this in its Disease Outbreak News report published on 6 November, adding that the country has also recorded 2,881 recoveries.

According to the report, 964 additional confirmed cases, including 511 deaths, had been reported since WHO’s previous outbreak update of 23 October.

Five countries affected

Since the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared on 15 May 2026, five countries have reported cases: DRC, France, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.

However, the outbreaks in France and Uganda have been brought under control since August, while Kenya and Nigeria continue their response efforts.

The latest WHO report said no new cases had been reported in Kenya or Nigeria since its previous update of 23 October.

Describing the scale of the outbreak in the DRC, WHO said it had become “the largest Ebola disease outbreak ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo irrespective of virus species.”

Community deaths raise concern

The WHO expressed concern over the high number of deaths occurring outside treatment centres, particularly among young children, highlighting the difficulties in identifying cases early and ensuring patients receive timely medical care.

Of the 512 deaths reported in the DRC since 21 October, 335 occurred in communities, while 177 were recorded in treatment centres.

“The high proportion of deaths occurring in communities, especially among young children, continues to highlight challenges in early case detection and timely access to appropriate care,” WHO said.

WHO noted that the outbreak remains concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, which account for most confirmed cases and deaths.

Ituri has recorded 7,485 cases and 3,532 deaths, while North Kivu has reported 2,593 cases and 1,422 deaths.

The WHO said 1,463 new confirmed cases were recorded across the DRC in the 21 days leading up to 3 November, with Ituri and North Kivu accounting for most of the infections.

Nigeria’s Ebola response

In Nigeria, the WHO reported one laboratory-confirmed imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on 20 October.

The patient was medically evacuated to Switzerland on 26 October and remains in isolation while receiving medical care in Geneva.

As of 3 November, WHO noted that 62 contacts had been identified in Nigeria, with six completing the mandatory 21-day follow-up period.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in its situation report published on 4 November, also confirmed that six contacts had completed their follow-up, while 56 remained under monitoring.

The agency reported no newly identified contacts or symptomatic contacts during the preceding 24 hours.

The WHO said Nigerian authorities, with support from the organisation and other partners, had intensified contact tracing, case investigations and infection prevention measures.

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Investigations are also ongoing to establish the likely source of the infection and reconstruct the patient’s travel and exposure history.

What is Bundibugyo virus disease?

Bundibugyo virus disease is a severe form of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of the viruses in the Orthoebolavirus genus.

According to the WHO, it is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread from animals to humans. Fruit bats are suspected to be its natural reservoir.

Initial human infections are thought to occur through contact with the blood or secretions of infected wildlife, including bats and non-human primates.

The virus subsequently spreads between people through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs and other bodily fluids of infected individuals. It can also spread through contaminated surfaces and materials.

The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, and infected people are not infectious before symptoms appear. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. These may progress to vomiting, diarrhoea, organ dysfunction and, in some cases, bleeding.

The WHO noted that early symptoms can resemble other illnesses, including malaria, so laboratory testing is important to confirm the diagnosis.

No vaccines or specific treatments are currently approved for Bundibugyo virus disease. The WHO said controlling the outbreak depends on early identification and isolation of cases, medical care, contact tracing, safe burial practices and community engagement.