Congo Ebola
Dr Jean Marc Shimbi, Medical Director of the Marie Claire Vandekerckhove Clinic, poses for a photo in Bunia, Congo, Friday, June 12, 2026.
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The Congolese Ministry of Health reports that confirmed Ebola cases in Congo have increased to 782, with 181 deaths. The outbreak, declared on May 15, is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which lacks an approved vaccine or treatment. The situation is worsened by attacks on health workers, skepticism among locals and ongoing armed conflict. The outbreak is concentrated in the eastern Ituri province, accounting for over 90% of cases, and has spread to North and South Kivu provinces and Uganda. Challenges in contact tracing arise from the frequent movement of displaced people and artisanal miners in the region.
Congolese authorities report a large daily increase in Ebola cases as the virus without a approved medicine or vaccine spreads rapidly. On Sunday, the Ministry of Health confirmed 72 new cases, bringing the total to 782, with 181 confirmed deaths. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, is spreading in Congo’s remote eastern province of Ituri. The World Health Organization is intensifying testing and contact tracing. Africa’s top health body is deploying technical expertise to accelerate the response. Nearly a million people have been displaced by years of conflict in the region, complicating efforts to contain the outbreak.
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