Congo Ebola toll hits 930 as violence hampers response in eastern provinces

Bunia,UPDATED: Jul 20, 2026 19:48 IST

Congo's Ebola outbreak has killed at least 930 people, the country's Health Ministry said on Monday, after 37 new deaths were reported in the 24 hours from Friday into Saturday, one of the highest daily totals recorded in the outbreak.

The deaths were recorded from 2,344 confirmed cases as of Saturday, the ministry said. The outbreak, declared in eastern Congo on May 15, is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. The Bundibugyo virus behind it is less common than other viruses that cause Ebola disease, and there is no approved vaccine or treatment for it.

Ebola is highly contagious and can spread to people from wild animals. It then spreads among humans through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen, and through contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing. The disease is rare but severe and is often fatal.

The rise in deaths has come as safety fears have limited the response in Ituri, the worst-affected province. Five provinces have been affected, all in eastern Congo, where rebel violence is widespread. Authorities said on Saturday that at least 12 attacks, mostly linked to scepticism and rumours, have been carried out against health facilities and teams since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. Many health workers have also walked off the job in protest over non-payment, and at least 36 health workers infected with the virus have died.

The World Health Organisation said last week that it was concerned that 80 per cent of new Ebola cases were coming from unknown chains of transmission, showing that the outbreak was spreading faster than health officials could track even as the response expanded. In the more than two months since the outbreak began, it has recorded an average rise of about 272 cases and 111 deaths a week, according to Health Ministry data. The data also showed that weekly increases gathered pace over time, especially in July, when reported cases and deaths rose more quickly than in earlier weeks. The ministry's latest update said 724 patients were currently in isolation and in hospitals, and that it was stepping up response efforts in affected health zones. "Patient care and support capacities are consolidating, with 22 new recoveries recorded in 24 hours," the ministry said.

Overall, the outbreak has continued to spread quickly since it was declared in May, with deaths rising, transmission chains becoming harder to trace, and the response facing security problems and staffing issues in the affected eastern provinces.

With PTI Inputs

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