The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the largest ever recorded in the country's history, with 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths, as it called for an urgent expansion of response efforts to contain the rapidly spreading disease.
In a statement on August 1,2026, the UN health agency said the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has intensified significantly over the past two months, spreading from a single health zone in Ituri Province to five provinces and affecting 49 health zones.
WHO said sustained transmission, expanding geographical spread and persistently high mortality underscore the severity of the public health emergency.
"This outbreak is now the largest Ebola outbreak ever reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," WHO said, noting that it has surpassed the country's previous largest outbreak recorded between 2018 and 2020.
According to WHO, the most recent reporting week recorded the highest weekly totals since the outbreak began, with 567 new confirmed cases and 296 deaths. The agency warned that insecurity, population displacement, high mobility and cross-border movements are complicating response operations and increasing the likelihood of the virus spreading to new areas.
The outbreak remains concentrated in Ituri Province, which accounts for 88 per cent of all confirmed infections and more than 82 per cent of reported deaths nationwide. However, active transmission continues in 33 of the 49 affected health zones, with hundreds of new infections and deaths reported within the past week alone.
WHO said national authorities, working alongside the agency and other partners, have implemented extensive public health measures, including enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention, clinical care, community engagement and logistical support. However, it stressed that existing efforts are insufficient.
"National authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in collaboration with WHO and partners, continue to implement extensive response measures, however, a substantial scaling up of response activities is needed to get ahead of the outbreak," the agency said.
Although Uganda officially declared its Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak over on 28 July after completing 42 days without a locally transmitted case, WHO cautioned that the country remains vulnerable to imported infections because of ongoing transmission in neighbouring DRC. The agency said it will continue monitoring Uganda for another 42 days to ensure no chains of transmission were missed.
Despite the escalating outbreak, WHO reiterated that it does not recommend restricting international travel or trade with affected countries. Instead, it urged governments across the region to maintain heightened surveillance, strengthen preparedness and reinforce cross-border collaboration to prevent further regional spread.
"WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, affected countries," the agency said, adding that coordinated outbreak control, sustained surveillance and preparedness remain essential to limiting transmission.