DR Congo: New centre opens at heart of record Ebola outbreak
3 August 2026
HealthNew UN-backed centres will serve eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as confirmed Ebola cases continued to climb sharply over the weekend in the largest ever outbreak of the highly contagious disease in the country.
Why it mattersAs of 30 July, reports indicate a total of 3,605 confirmed cases, including 1,587 deaths, since the outbreak was first declared in mid-May, according to latest updates from WHOThe highest number of reported cases (567) and deaths (296) were recorded in the most recent week’s dataOver the last two months, the outbreak has expanded to five additional provinces and is now affecting 49 health zonesThe outbreak remains active in 33 of them, with confirmed cases still being reportedIturi remains the most impacted province, accounting for 88 per cent of all confirmed cases and 82.6 per cent of reported deaths nationwideHealth partners will open DRC’s largest treatment centre this week, complementing an Ebola transit centre, according to the UN aid coordination agency, OCHAWHO warned a substantial scaling up of response activities is needed“Ebola is moving fast, hitting people already facing conflict and hunger,” said Carl Skau, acting chief of the World Food Programme (WFP) following a weekend visit to eastern DRC. “Communities are key to ending it, but need support.”WHO said the current outbreak is now the largest recorded Ebola virus disease outbreak in the country, surpassing the 2018 to 2020 outbreak which resulted in 3,317 confirmed cases.During the most recent complete reporting week, the highest weekly number of reported cases (567) and deaths (296) to date were recorded, underscoring the exceptional pace of transmission.
