Wire flash
HealthWHO: Congo's Ebola outbreak has most cases in first month of any African outbreak
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded the highest number of confirmed cases in the first month of any Ebola outbreak in Africa. As of late June 2026, the outbreak has infected over 1,000 people and killed 267. The virus was detected late, having circulated for months before being officially declared on May 15. WHO official Abdirahman Mahamud stated that the response must expand to keep pace with the growing outbreak. Cases have been reported in at least three crowded displacement camps in eastern Congo, with the International Organisation for Migration confirming 25 cases and 14 deaths at the camps. The outbreak is compared to the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic and a 2018 outbreak in Congo.
Source report
Updated: June 25, 2026 05:07 pm IST — NAIROBI Source: Reuters
A health worker in personal protective equipment stands near displaced people waiting for the burial of suspected Ebola victims at the Kigonze displaced persons camp, one month after an outbreak was declared, in Bunia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on June 18, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters
Overview
Congo’s Ebola outbreak has recorded the largest number of confirmed cases in the first month of any Ebola outbreak in Africa, a senior World Health Organisation (WHO) official told a briefing on Tuesday (June 23, 2026).
- The Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has infected over 1,000 people and killed 267.
- The outbreak was detected late; experts say the virus had already been circulating for months before it was officially declared on May 15.
“The response needs to expand to keep pace with the expanding outbreak — this is beginning to happen,” WHO’s Abdirahman Mahamud told a press briefing in Geneva after returning from the outbreak’s epicentre, Bunia, last week.
Comparison with Previous Outbreaks
The two largest Ebola outbreaks before this one were:
- West Africa (2014–2016): Affected Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia; killed 11,000 people.
- Congo (2018): A less fatal outbreak.
Situation in Displacement Camps
Ebola cases have now been reported in at least three of eastern Congo’s crowded displacement camps, Reuters has reported.
The International Organisation for Migration’s Abdoulaye Wone said at the same briefing that at least 25 cases had been confirmed at the camps, including 14 deaths.
Broader Context
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been over 20 Ebola outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa.
Related Development
Civil Aviation Ministry, DIAL launch Air Suvidha 2.0 portal for Ebola health screening at points of entry in India
Published - June 23, 2026 07:35 pm IST
Source
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Western
Part of this Story
WHO Declares Global Emergency Over Rare Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak in Africa