By Josephine Sesay
More than 5,000 people have died from an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with confirmed infections exceeding 10,300, raising concerns over the spread of the deadly disease across parts of Africa.
The outbreak, which began in May 2026, has become the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the history of the Central African country, according to public health officials. Eight of the country’s 26 provinces have been affected, while the case fatality rate stands at approximately 48.6 per cent.
The latest figures highlight the growing scale of the epidemic, which has placed significant pressure on health authorities and international response teams working to contain the virus.
The northeastern province of Ituri remains the epicentre of the outbreak, with insecurity and ongoing conflict making it increasingly difficult for health workers to reach affected communities, conduct surveillance and provide medical assistance.
The disease has also spread beyond the DRC, with cases reported in other African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria. Uganda, which previously recorded cases linked to the outbreak, declared the end of its outbreak in August 2026.
The current epidemic is the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. It is also the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The World Health Organization has called for stronger disease surveillance, improved access to affected communities, expanded community engagement and sustained public health interventions to bring the outbreak under control.
The organisation has also emphasised the importance of cross-border cooperation, early detection and effective monitoring of people who may have been exposed to the virus.
With thousands of lives already lost and infections continuing to spread, the outbreak remains a major public health concern for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the wider African continent.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on wednesday, 4th November 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
