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HealthEbola epidemic spirals in DR Congo, spreads to five provinces, threatens South Sudan
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The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is escalating, having spread to five provinces and threatening to reach South Sudan. The outbreak was declared on May 15th, 2026, but had been spreading for at least six weeks prior, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency. In Ituri province, the main affected area, community nurse Moise Bulabantu reports a severe lack of protective equipment, with only gloves available to treat feverish and vomiting patients. The Congolese government has failed to contain the epidemic, highlighting fragile health systems in Africa. The article, published by The Economist on July 12th, 2026, underscores the urgent need for international response to prevent further spread.
Source report
It has spread to five provinces in Congo and may soon reach South Sudan
Photograph: Getty Images
Jul 12th 2026 | Bunia | 5 min read
"WE KEEP ASKING and we still haven't got anything," says Moise Bulabantu, from a dingy clapboard clinic on the outskirts of Bunia, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The 38-year-old community nurse is the only public-health worker in his district of more than 40,000 people, where an outbreak of Ebola has been spreading.
Every day he sees patients who are feverish or vomiting. But the government has yet to send protective equipment. "We're pushing for the minimum," says Mr Bulabantu, who has bags under his eyes. "We only have gloves."
Stories such as Mr Bulabantu's are common across Ituri, the main province affected by the Ebola epidemic. When the Congolese government declared an outbreak on May 15th, the disease had been spreading for at least six weeks, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare it a public-health emergency two days later. Health authorities are still failing to contain the epidemic.
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