DRC Ebola Outbreak Now Deadliest in History

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the nation's history, with the death toll surpassing 2,300 as of August 18, 2026. According to the World Health Organization, the outbreak is now on track to exceed the 2014-2016 West African epidemic, which remains the deadliest on record globally.

The country has reported over 2,325 deaths, exceeding the toll of 2,299 from a previous outbreak. The fatality rate has climbed to nearly 47 percent. Health authorities have recorded 4,945 confirmed cases, including 101 new cases detected in the last 24 hours. Approximately 1,040 people have recovered, while 730 remain hospitalized or in isolation.

The outbreak, the 17th in the country's history, has now spread to a sixth province after a death was reported in Basuele. It continues to heavily burden Ituri province, with cases also confirmed in North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo provinces. The WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern three months ago.

A significant challenge is that the current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are no approved...