# DR Congo Ebola outbreak becomes deadliest in national record > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bundibugyo-ebola-outbreak-vaccine-effort > Updated: 2026-08-22T11:22:35.000Z. Sources: 355. Developments: 8. The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has officially become the deadliest in the nation’s history, surpassing the record set during the 2018–2020 epidemic. As of late August 2026, the National Institute of Public Health reports 5,514 confirmed cases and 2,642 deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of approximately 47.9 percent. The epidemic is spreading rapidly across six provinces—Ituri, North Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, South Kivu, and Bas-Uélé—covering a territory larger than France. Ituri province has emerged as the epicenter, accounting for over 83 percent of all confirmed cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, noting that the epidemic is spreading faster than containment efforts can manage and warning of potential regional expansion. Security challenges and violence continue to hinder response efforts. The Red Cross has reported attacks on volunteers and the destruction of medical equipment, while other reports indicate ambulances have been targeted and health workers injured. These incidents, alongside mass displacements and infrastructure deficiencies, have obstructed essential activities such as contact tracing, vaccination, and safe burials. In response, the first batch of 16,520 doses of the Ervebo vaccine has arrived in Kinshasa, with an additional 50,000 doses expected shortly. While Ervebo was originally designed for the Zaire strain, laboratory data suggests it may offer protection against the Bundibugyo strain, and it is being utilized in clinical trials to confirm effectiveness. Additionally, Pope Leo XIV has issued an urgent appeal to the international community to support containment efforts and involve local communities in prevention strategies. ## Claims - More than 2,500 people have died during the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (disputed by 19 sources) - The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was declared on 15 May 2026. (disputed by 14 sources) - There are currently 4,945 confirmed cases of Ebola. (disputed by 11 sources) - The Ebola outbreak in the DRC was declared on 15 May 2024. (disputed by 10 sources) - There are currently 5,021 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC. (disputed by 7 sources) - The outbreak is the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (disputed by 6 sources) - The WHO says the DRC outbreak is the second‑largest Ebola epidemic on record. (disputed by 5 sources) - The disease has killed 2,325 people. (corroborated by 26 sources) - The Africa CDC reported that children face a particularly high fatality rate from Ebola. (corroborated by 19 sources) - Two-thirds of infected children under the age of one die from Ebola. (corroborated by 19 sources) - The fatality rate for children aged one to four is 58.5 percent. (corroborated by 19 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-22: Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola outbreak: patients recover in Katwa Eight people, including four Ebola survivors, left the Katwa Treatment Center in the DRC on August 21. The Bundibugyo virus outbreak currently affects six provinces and 56 health zones. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/democratic-republic-of-the-congo-ebola-outbreak-patients-recover-in-katwa ### 2026-08-22: DR Congo Ebola outbreak reaches record speed with over 2,600 deaths The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces a record-breaking Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain, with over 2,600 deaths reported and international health emergencies declared. 113 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ebola-bundibugyo-outbreak-declared-international-health-emergency ### 2026-08-18: DR Congo Ebola outbreak exceeds 5,000 cases The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling a record-breaking Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain, with over 5,000 cases and 2,400 deaths reported as the virus spreads rapidly across six provinces. 166 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-reaches-historic-levels-of-lethality ### 2026-08-01: DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Hits Record Death Toll, Maternal Deaths Rise DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak, declared 15 May, is the nation’s deadliest with ~3,800 cases, ~1,700 deaths and a 44 % fatality rate; Ituri accounts for ~90 % of cases, maternal deaths have doubled, and health‑staff 69 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-reaches-secondlargest-epidemic-globally ### 2026-07-04: DR Congo Ebola outbreak tops 500 deaths amid expanding cases WHO reports 1,561 Ebola cases and 506 deaths in DR Congo’s Bundibugyo outbreak, now spreading to Uganda and France; a new trial testing MBP134 and remdesivir has begun amid health‑worker strike threats. 55 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dr-congo-ebola-bundibugyo-outbreak-hits-1460-cases-who-starts-clinical-trial ### 2026-06-24: Ebola experimental drug trials launch in Democratic Republic of Congo The U.S. will supply experimental antibody MBP134 and support trials in the DRC, while WHO launches studies using MBP134 and remdesivir to combat the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak affecting over 1,000 people. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ebola-experimental-drug-trials-launch-in-democratic-republic-of-congo ### 2026-06-02: CEPI grants $62 million to accelerate Ebola vaccine development for DRC and Uganda CEPI awarded roughly $62 million to Moderna, Oxford/SII and IAVI to fast‑track vaccines against the Bundibugyo Ebola strain threatening DRC and Uganda, where over 900 cases have been reported. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cepi-grants-62-million-to-accelerate-ebola-vaccine-development-for-drc-and-uganda ### 2026-05-28: WHO picks vaccine and treatment candidates for Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak WHO selects promising vaccines (rVSV‑Bundibugyo, ChAdOx1‑Bundibugyo) and treatments (monoclonal antibodies, remdesivir, MBP134, maftivimab) for the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda, with trials to be 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/who-picks-vaccine-and-treatment-candidates-for-bundibugyo-ebola-outbreak --- Cite as: DR Congo Ebola outbreak becomes deadliest in national record. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bundibugyo-ebola-outbreak-vaccine-effort