The death toll from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has risen to 5,372, with the fatality rate reaching 51.6 per cent, according to the country’s latest official health report. The situation report released on Sunday by the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) showed that DR Congo had recorded 10,414 confirmed infections as of October 30, 2026.
The updated figures mean that more than half of those diagnosed with the disease have died. Health authorities explained that the increase in reported deaths resulted from a retrospective review of mortality records involving local data officials and the outbreak management team in Ituri Province. They clarified that the adjustment did not represent a sudden surge in deaths within a single day.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no known vaccine or specific treatment. Healthcare workers are providing supportive care to patients based on their symptoms. The outbreak was declared in mid-May 2026, catching health authorities by surprise and presenting challenges for containment efforts.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), approximately 80 per cent of new infections are being recorded outside the known chains of monitored contacts, making it difficult for health officials to trace the source of transmission. Beyond DR Congo, cases have also been reported in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, raising concerns about the spread of the disease across the region. The development has increased pressure on public health authorities to strengthen surveillance, identify new infections and improve contact tracing to contain the outbreak.
