RismadarVoice Reporters
September 28, 2026
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 8,000 confirmed cases as health authorities struggle with a growing shortage of medical personnel needed to contain the disease.
Latest figures released by the country’s Health Ministry showed that 8,067 confirmed cases and 3,901 deaths had been recorded as of September 26.
Cases have been reported across 63 health zones in seven of the country’s 26 provinces, putting the reported case fatality rate at more than 48 per cent.
The outbreak was declared on May 15 and has been attributed to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
Despite containment efforts by Congolese authorities and international health partners, the disease has continued to spread geographically.
The World Health Organisation has raised concerns about the high number of deaths, particularly those occurring within communities rather than treatment facilities.
Health authorities say such deaths can indicate challenges with early case detection, timely referral and access to appropriate medical care.
However, the reported fatality rate does not necessarily capture the complete picture of the outbreak because factors including undetected infections and delays in seeking treatment can affect official figures.
The response has also been complicated by a shortage of healthcare personnel.
Health workers have reportedly complained about delayed or unpaid salaries, contributing to industrial disputes at a time when additional personnel are needed for surveillance, treatment, contact tracing and other outbreak-control measures.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that 50 health workers have died since the outbreak began, highlighting the risks faced by frontline personnel.
There have nevertheless been indications of improvement in some affected areas, with fewer confirmed cases reported recently in parts of Ituri and Haut-Uele provinces.
Health officials remain concerned, however, about transmission spreading into additional areas and increasing the geographical reach of the outbreak.
The scale of the crisis has also prompted comparisons with the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
Africa CDC data indicated that the West African epidemic had recorded 3,781 cases by its 19th week, compared with 7,840 cases during a comparable period of the current outbreak in Congo.
The 2014–2016 West African epidemic ultimately resulted in more than 28,000 reported cases and over 11,000 deaths across the region.
Health authorities have identified insecurity, population displacement, movement between affected communities and industrial action involving healthcare workers among the factors complicating efforts to contain the current outbreak.
Authorities and international health organisations are continuing surveillance, treatment and other response measures as efforts intensify to prevent further transmission.
