Figures released by the DRC Ministry of Health show that 6,186 people have contracted the virus, including 3,007 who have died, since the outbreak was declared in mid-May 2026. It is now the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak ever recorded.

The outbreak has mainly affected parts of eastern DRC, where efforts to contain its spread have been hampered by several challenges, including insecurity, attacks on health workers and limited medical infrastructure.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the outbreak could become the most serious Ebola epidemic on record, potentially surpassing the West Africa outbreak of 2014 to 2016, which killed about 11,000 people.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of the less common Ebola species. There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the virus.

Despite this, the DRC government continues to use the Ervebo vaccine, which has been used in previous Ebola outbreaks, with WHO saying it may help protect people who receive it.

The Ebola virus has so far spread to six provinces in the DRC.