Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Could Become Deadliest Ever, WHO Warns

The 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could surpass the deadliest Ebola epidemic on record if the virus continues spreading at its current rate, the World Health Organization has warned.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak could eventually exceed the toll recorded during the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which killed at least 11,000 people.

The current outbreak was officially declared on May 15, 2026. According to figures cited by the WHO, it has recorded at least 4,300 cases and more than 2,000 deaths.

WHO warns Ebola outbreak is moving faster than response

Health officials have raised concerns about the speed at which the virus is spreading in eastern DR Congo.

WHO Africa Director Dr Mohamed Janabi said health workers were struggling to keep pace with the outbreak.

He said available research indicates that the virus may have begun circulating as early as February, several months before the outbreak was officially declared.

According to health officials, some early cases were initially mistaken for malaria or typhoid, potentially delaying the identification of the Ebola outbreak.

The WHO has said it hopes to bring transmission under control within three months, although officials stressed that controlling transmission would not necessarily mean the outbreak had completely ended.

Rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain behind outbreak

The 2026 outbreak is being caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, a relatively rare strain that has previously been responsible for only two known outbreaks, in 2007 and 2012.

Unlike some other Ebola strains, there is currently no approved vaccine or recognised therapeutic treatment specifically available for Bundibugyo Ebola.

The situation has been further complicated by instability in parts of eastern DR Congo, where health workers are reportedly struggling to reach many people affected by the outbreak.

Janabi said healthcare teams were currently reaching only about 30% of cases, highlighting the difficulty of controlling transmission in affected communities.

Oxford vaccine enters human trial process

There is, however, progress towards developing new protection against the strain.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has authorised the first human trials of a vaccine candidate targeting Bundibugyo Ebola.

The vaccine is being developed by researchers at the University of Oxford using technology similar to that employed in the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

Three other research groups are also developing potential vaccines against the Bundibugyo strain, although their candidates have not yet entered clinical trials.

The WHO is separately supporting a clinical trial in DR Congo to determine whether two existing antiviral treatments can improve survival among patients infected with the virus.

Also Read: What to Know About Hantavirus and How It Spreads

What are the symptoms of Ebola?

Ebola is a rare but potentially deadly viral disease.

Symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after infection and may initially resemble illnesses such as flu or malaria.

Early symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness

As the illness progresses, patients may develop vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to severe complications including organ failure.

The virus can spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, including blood and vomit.

Why the DR Congo outbreak is difficult to control

Health officials are facing several challenges in containing the outbreak.

The suspected delay between the virus beginning to circulate and its official identification may have allowed transmission to continue undetected.

In addition, insecurity and regional instability have made it more difficult for health workers to access some affected communities.

The WHO’s warning that the outbreak could become the deadliest Ebola epidemic on record underscores the urgency of increasing surveillance, improving access to affected communities and accelerating research into vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo strain.

Authorities and international health organisations continue to monitor the outbreak as efforts intensify to slow transmission and improve survival among those infected.