New UN-backed centres will serve eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as confirmed Ebola cases continued to climb sharply over the weekend in the largest ever outbreak of the highly contagious disease in the country.
Why it matters
- As of 30 July, reports indicate a total of 3,605 confirmed cases, including 1,587 deaths, since the outbreak was first declared on 15 May 2026, according to latest updates from the World Health Organization (WHO)
- The highest number of reported cases (567) and deaths (296) were recorded in the most recent week’s data
- The outbreak has impacted five provinces and 49 health zones
- Transmission is active in 33 of these zones, with confirmed cases still being reported
- Ituri remains the most impacted province, accounting for 88 per cent of all confirmed cases and 82.6 per cent of reported deaths nationwide
- UN-partner the International Medical Corps (IMC) is opening a DRC’s largest treatment centre this week, complementing the existing capacity of the authorities and partners of 900 beds over the five provinces.
- WHO continues to warn that a substantial scaling-up of response activities is needed
“Ebola is moving fast, hitting people already facing conflict and hunger,” said Carl Skau, acting chief of the World Food Programme (WFP) following a weekend visit to eastern DRC. “Communities are key to ending it, but need support.”
The UN World Health Organization reports that the current outbreak is now the largest recorded Ebola virus disease outbreak in the country, surpassing the 2018 to 2020 outbreak which resulted in 3,317 confirmed cases.
During the most recent complete reporting week, the highest weekly number of reported cases (567) and deaths (296) to date were recorded, underscoring the exceptional pace of transmission.
