**Title: Nearly 1,000 People Have Died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo**
**Date: July 22, 2026**
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a severe Ebola outbreak, with nearly 1,000 confirmed deaths reported since the emergence of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus in May 2026. As of the latest updates from the DRC’s National Institute of Public Health, the death toll stands at 999, marking a significant public health crisis in the region.
The outbreak, declared on May 15, began in the northeastern province of Ituri, where the majority of cases have been concentrated. The DRC's Health Ministry has recorded a total of 2,473 cases associated with this outbreak, with at least 737 patients currently in isolation and receiving treatment in hospitals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also confirmed that two additional deaths have occurred in neighboring Uganda, which has reported cases linked to the DRC outbreak.
This current Ebola outbreak is notable for its rapid progression, having claimed lives at a faster rate than any previous outbreak on record. The 2013-2016 outbreak, which is often cited as the worst in history, resulted in over 11,000 deaths from approximately 28,000 cases over a span of several months. In contrast, the current outbreak reached the grim milestone of 1,000 deaths in a significantly shorter timeframe.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed concern regarding the outbreak's alarming acceleration, stating that it has expanded faster than any previous instance of the virus. The nature of Ebola, which spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids, has made containment efforts challenging, with cases also emerging in other provinces of the DRC beyond Ituri.
Thierno Balde, the WHO’s incident manager for the Bundibugyo strain, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that despite plans to enhance response efforts, the outbreak continues to outpace containment measures. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments specifically for the Bundibugyo strain, complicating the response to the outbreak.
In a call to action, Jean Kaseya, the Director-General of Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), emphasized the need for immediate intervention. He warned that without prompt action, the situation could escalate into the worst outbreak the world has ever documented. Kaseya urged for the mobilization of all available resources to strengthen the response on the ground and prevent further loss of life.
Further complicating the situation, Kaseya has reached out to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to request the lifting of Ebola-related travel restrictions on Uganda, which has not reported new infections in about a month. The last Ebola patient in Uganda was discharged on July 16, initiating a 42-day countdown to potentially declare the country free of the virus, according to WHO guidelines. However, the U.S. continues to impose entry restrictions on travelers who have recently been in the DRC and some who have visited Uganda or South Sudan.
As the DRC grapples with this unprecedented health crisis, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, with hopes that coordinated efforts can mitigate the impact of the outbreak and prevent further spread of the virus.