The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could be significantly larger than official figures indicate, as the number of deaths has more than doubled in just over two weeks, raising fears of a rapidly escalating public health crisis.
According to WHO, the outbreak has now recorded more than 1,900 confirmed cases and over 700 deaths, with officials warning that the actual number of infections could be two to four times higher because many cases remain undetected. The disease has spread into additional provinces, while nearly 80 percent of new infections have no identifiable transmission links, making containment increasingly difficult.WHO's Executive Director for Health Emergencies, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the outbreak has reached a critical stage and called for urgent international support. He noted that the response remains severely underfunded, with the agency receiving less than half of the resources required to combat the epidemic effectively.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, was confirmed in May 2026 and is occurring in a region affected by insecurity, population displacement and limited healthcare access.
WHO and partner organisations are expanding surveillance, treatment, laboratory capacity and cross-border preparedness, while clinical trials of experimental treatments have also commenced.
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