At least 930 people have died in Congo’s Ebola outbreak

July 20, 2026 - 08:07

Congo's health ministry has announced that at least 930 people have died in the country's ongoing Ebola outbreak, marking one of the deadliest episodes of the virus in the region's history. The update comes as medical teams continue to battle the disease in remote and conflict-affected areas of North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Since the outbreak was declared in August 2018, more than 1,400 confirmed and probable cases have been recorded, with the death toll steadily climbing despite the use of an experimental vaccine and advanced treatment methods.

Health workers face significant obstacles, including community mistrust, armed group violence, and difficult terrain. Attacks on treatment centers have forced temporary suspensions of operations, while some residents resist medical interventions due to misinformation or cultural beliefs. The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak remains a serious public health threat, though it has not yet been declared a global emergency. Efforts to contain the virus rely on tracing contacts, safe burials, and vaccination campaigns that have reached over 200,000 people. The current outbreak is the second deadliest on record, after the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people.