IRC Warns DRC Ebola Outbreak Is Worse Than 282 Confirmed Cases as Tracing Stays Near 20%
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 1
IRC Warns DRC Ebola Outbreak Is Worse Than 282 Confirmed Cases as Tracing Stays Near 20%
5 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 1
More than 1,000 suspected Ebola cases and over 200 suspected deaths in the DRC suggest the outbreak is far larger than the 282 confirmed cases and 42 confirmed deaths reported so far, the IRC said.
Only about 20% of contacts are being traced, while diagnostic-cartridge shortages and testing backlogs are delaying confirmation and allowing transmission to spread undetected, possibly since before March.
At least six healthcare workers have died, including two doctors in recent days, and people avoiding health facilities are raising fears that infected patients remain in communities and erode trust in the response.
Uganda has already confirmed at least nine travel-related cases and one death, and the IRC warned the outbreak could spread to Burundi or South Sudan without urgent funding and stronger local containment.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccine; CEPI said it will accelerate three candidate vaccines as aid groups warn of parallels with the 2018-2020 DRC epidemic that caused 3,400 cases and 2,200 deaths.
With no approved vaccine for this Ebola strain, can scientists win the race against time before the outbreak spirals out of control?
Trapped between armed conflict and a deadly virus, can humanitarian aid even reach the millions at risk in Congo's Ebola outbreak?
As of late May 2026, the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a major health crisis, with 83 confirmed and 746 suspected cases. The Bundibugyo strain is spreading quickly, outpacing the ability of health workers to trace contacts—only 21% of identified contacts were followed up. Despite some recoveries, the rapid transmission and limited contact tracing highlight the urgent need for stronger response efforts. The situation is made more difficult by ongoing conflict, community mistrust, and a lack of targeted vaccines, making containment and control especially challenging.