Ebola in Congo Spirals Out of Control: Over 5,000 Infected, Nearly 2,400 Dead
WHO warns of high risk of international spread as the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo becomes the world's second worst.
WHO warns of high risk of international spread as the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo becomes the world's second worst.
The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is "far from contained," warned Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the latest data, the number of confirmed cases has surpassed 5,000, and nearly 2,400 people have died from the disease, making this outbreak the second worst in the world, just behind the one that struck West Africa from 2014 to 2016.
The Institute of Public Health in DR Congo has recorded 5,021 cases and 2,378 deaths, according to a report published on August 19, 2026. The WHO, on the other hand, reports slightly lower figures, around 5,000 infected and over 2,300 dead, which is explained by different reporting times. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.
The seventeenth Ebola outbreak in Congo was declared on May 15, 2026, in the northern and eastern regions of the country, where state presence is weak and health infrastructure is inadequate. By the end of July, it had already become the largest in DR Congo's history in terms of case numbers, surpassing the previous worst outbreak that lasted from 2018 to 2020. The disease is spreading across six provinces and 55 health zones.
The spread is further hampered by weak health infrastructure, resistance from the local population, instability, and protests by health workers involved in containing the infection. On May 17, the WHO issued a public health threat alert of international concern, the second-highest level of alarm for the organization.
At the opening of the WHO emergency committee meeting on Ebola, Tedros stated: "Nearly 5,000 people are now infected, and over 2,300 have died, across six provinces and 55 health zones." He also emphasized the "high" risk of international spread of the disease. After the meeting, he announced that recommendations for DR Congo and other countries at risk would be published "in the coming days."
"We call on all governments and all partners to cooperate and act together to further intensify efforts and mobilize the necessary resources to protect communities in the coming months," urged Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
This is the second time the WHO emergency committee has met since the organization declared a public health threat of international concern on May 17. Although there is no direct link to Croatia, the global health risk of Ebola spreading requires the attention of the international community.
