KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – According to official figures up to August 7, DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has resulted in 1,916 deaths and confirmed 4,209 cases. This number increases the death toll by 29 compared to the previous update reporting 1,887 fatalities. Health authorities also report that 595 patients are currently in isolation for treatment. Additionally, 828 individuals have recovered from the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.
Ituri continues to be the epicenter of the epidemic, with 3,636 confirmed cases and 1,551 fatalities. In North Kivu, authorities have recorded 470 cases and 315 deaths. Haut Uele reports 91 cases and 44 deaths, while Tshopo has nine cases and five deaths. South Kivu’s numbers include three cases and one death. Overall, the outbreak spans 53 of 140 health zones across five affected provinces.
The most recent daily update added 89 confirmed infections and 21 fatalities to the national totals. Ituri contributed 73 of these new cases. North Kivu had 12 new cases, and Haut Uele recorded four. Officials noted that 83.4% of identified contacts are under follow-up across the affected regions. Efforts are ongoing to review and harmonize case and death data as surveillance records are continuously updated.
Expansion of Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak into eastern provinces
In May, the Democratic Republic of the Congo confirmed the presence of the outbreak after laboratory testing detected Bundibugyo virus. The World Health Organization declared this outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. Symptoms caused by the virus include fever, weakness, body pain, vomiting, and other severe signs, with some patients experiencing bleeding. This marks the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was initially identified in 1976.
The Congolese Ministry of Health has mobilized response efforts focusing on surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, and clinical management. Infection control measures and safe burial practices are also being enforced to limit transmission. The response effort targets communities affected by insecurity and high population movement in eastern Congo. Health workers persist in tracking contacts and investigating suspected cases across affected zones and along major travel routes.
No Approved Vaccine Exists for Bundibugyo Virus
Unlike the Zaire species of Ebola virus, the Bundibugyo virus currently lacks a licensed vaccine or approved treatment. Supportive medical care remains the primary approach, including hydration, symptom relief, and close clinical observation. Ongoing research is evaluating potential vaccines and investigational treatments. Surveillance efforts outside Congo have also identified cases; Uganda reported 20 confirmed infections and two deaths by late July, with no new cases since June 21.
These latest figures confirm that the 2026 epidemic is the largest outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus to date. Transmission remains largely concentrated in DR Congo, especially in Ituri and North Kivu. Despite intensified surveillance, isolation, and contact monitoring, the total cases and deaths continue to grow. Authorities are maintaining laboratory testing, case detection, patient treatment, and infection prevention measures, updating the national count as new surveillance data is received.