Kampala, Uganda — The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported another death from the Ebola virus, marking the disease’s spread to a sixth province, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced on August 13, 2026.
The death occurred in the previously unaffected province of Bas — Uele, raising concerns about the potential for the outbreak to expand further. This latest death brings the total number of confirmed cases to 4,587, with 937 recoveries and 2,130 deaths, according to the latest data.
The fatality rate stands at 46. 4%, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, warning that it could become the deadliest ever.
The current Ebola outbreak in the DRC, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, is the 17th in the country and began on May 14, 2026.
The Bundibugyo strain is one of the five known Ebola viruses and is known for its high mortality rate.
The outbreak has been exacerbated by poor healthcare infrastructure, social instability, and the presence of armed groups in the affected areas.
The Africa CDC has warned that if the outbreak is not stopped, it could last more than a year and become the largest in the world.
The WHO Director — General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, echoed these concerns, stating that the outbreak is spreading faster than any previous one and is on track to surpass the deadliest on record.
The DRC’s fast-growing Ebola outbreak has raised international concern due to the lack of approved vaccines or treatments for the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
The outbreak began in the northeastern Ituri province and has since spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut — Uele, and Tshopo provinces.
The WHO has called for an urgent scale — up of the community-led Ebola response in the DRC, emphasizing the need for stronger early detection, contact follow-up, access to care, support for frontline health workers, and faster delivery of resources to affected communities.
The mission to contain the outbreak has been supported by lessons learned from Uganda’s successful containment of local transmission.
As the Ebola outbreak continues to spread, the DRC government and international health organizations are working tirelessly to contain the virus and prevent further transmission.
The situation remains critical, and efforts to educate and protect the population are ongoing.
The spread of Ebola to a new province in the DRC highlights the urgency of the situation and the need for a coordinated global response.
The international community must continue to support the DRC government and health organizations in their efforts to control the outbreak and save lives.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Google News v2
