WHO warns of concerning Ebola outbreak in DR Congo amid escalating violence

The World Health Organization reported that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains concerning as of November 14, 2026. The epidemic, driven by the Bundibugyo strain, is spreading into new, remote, and rural areas despite declining case numbers in initial epicenters. This outbreak represents the largest in the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the second-largest ever recorded worldwide.

Rising mortality and case numbers

As of Tuesday, November 11, 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 11,114 confirmed Ebola cases and 5,433 deaths. This represents a case fatality rate of 48.9%. The virus is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines. While cases are declining in initial epicenters, the disease is moving into new territories. In Bunia, some treatment center beds are only half occupied due to the shifting nature of the outbreak.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Head of WHO Health Emergencies Program, said that progress is encouraging in some areas, but rising insecurity is the biggest challenge as cases emerge in rural areas. Marie Roseline Belizaire, the WHO Regional Emergency Director for Africa, said the overall situation is concerning as transmission spreads to new areas despite declines in initial epicenters.

Violence against healthcare workers

Insecurity and armed conflict are significantly hindering medical responses. The World Health Organization has verified 81 attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel since the epidemic began in mid-May 2026. On November 5, 2026, an armed attack in Cantine-Aloya, located in the Beni territory of North Kivu Province, killed 66 civilians, including three health workers. This specific attack resulted in the looting and burning of three health facilities.

The violence in Cantine-Aloya has caused significant disruptions to medical tracking. The attack caused more than 1,000 contacts to be lost to follow-up and left three confirmed patients unaccounted for. Julien Harneis, the UN OCHA Ebola Coordinator in Bunia, said that more people are dying daily from ADF violence than from Ebola.

Wessam Mankoula, the Africa CDC Ebola Coordinator, and other health officials continue to monitor the situation as the virus continues to move through the region. The combination of a high fatality rate and physical attacks on medical infrastructure remains the primary obstacle to containing the Bundibugyo strain.

Glossary

• Democratic Republic of the Congo — An African country that requires incoming passengers older than nine months to one year to have a current International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis.
• Bunia — A location where treatment center beds are partially occupied due to the shifting nature of an outbreak.
• North Kivu Province — A province where an armed attack in the Beni territory killed 66 civilians, including three health workers.
• case fatality rate — A measure used to assess the severity and evolution of a pandemic. It is the ratio of deaths to the total number of cases.