Congo Ebola outbreak kills 1,500 as fastest-growing surge outpaces response

Bunia,UPDATED: Jul 30, 2026 16:54 IST

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has killed more than 1,500 people, according to official data released on Thursday, underlining how the emergency continues to outpace response efforts. The latest update showed a sharp rise in deaths in around a week, with the outbreak now described as the fastest-growing on record.

As of Tuesday, Congo had recorded 3,442 cases and 1,521 deaths, government data showed. The outbreak, declared on May 15, has been linked to the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

The data showed that 797 patients are currently in isolation or in hospital, while 615 people have recovered. Contact tracing remains behind target, with only around 78 per cent of known contacts being monitored across the country, well below the 95 per cent level that health officials say is needed to stop transmission.

Most cases are concentrated in eastern Congo's remote Ituri province, which accounts for nearly 90 per cent of infections. However, confirmed cases have also been reported in five provinces, including Kisangani, one of the country's largest cities.

Neighbouring Uganda declared itself free of Ebola on Tuesday after its last patient was discharged in mid-June. Ebola is rare but highly contagious and can spread through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. The disease it causes is severe and often fatal.

The current outbreak has killed more people at a faster rate than any previous Ebola outbreak, including the 2014-2016 outbreak, when 28,000 cases were reported and more than 11,000 people died. That outbreak took about eight months to reach 1,000 deaths.

The speed of transmission has added to concerns that many communities in the affected provinces are either unreachable or have been left without responders in recent days because of safety fears following attacks by angry residents and rebels.

partners supporting the Ebola response in Ituri's Nyakunde health zone temporarily pulled out after a July 15 attack on a hospital and a treatment centre, which was sparked by a patient's death. Officials said the withdrawal of aid groups, including the World Health Organisation, Africa CDC, Samaritan's Purse and Mercy Corps, has disrupted surveillance, contact tracing and supplies.

Local health officials said security has since stabilised and urged partners to return, while Africa CDC said teams could be redeployed as soon as next week. Overall, the latest data showed the outbreak is still spreading quickly, with deaths rising, response work under strain and contact tracing still below the level needed to break the chain of transmission.

With PTI Inputs

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