Congo Reports 598 Ebola Cases and 115 Deaths as Weeks of Undetected Spread Hampers Response
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 9
Congo Reports 598 Ebola Cases and 115 Deaths as Weeks of Undetected Spread Hampers Response
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 9
Summary
598 confirmed Ebola cases and 115 deaths have now been recorded in Congo, with the government also reporting 22 recoveries and no spread into additional health zones.
Weeks of undetected transmission after the Bundibugyo-strain outbreak was announced on May 15 left health authorities behind the curve in trying to contain one of the world's largest Ebola outbreaks.
25 health zones across three conflict-hit provinces are affected—17 in Ituri, seven in North Kivu and one in South Kivu—prompting officials to urge people with fever, vomiting or diarrhea to seek care quickly.
Attacks on burial teams and treatment centres, along with shortages of basic protective equipment, have slowed the response, while the International Rescue Committee called for more funding to contain the outbreak in Ituri.
In a warzone with no vaccine, is the DRC's Ebola outbreak an unstoppable catastrophe?
Did past cuts to global health aid leave the DRC defenseless against this new Ebola threat?
Bundibugyo Ebola Crisis 2026: Outbreak Status, Global Coordination, and the Challenge of Vaccine Development
Overview
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, as of June 10, 2026, remains a major public health concern that requires immediate and coordinated international action. Global cooperation is essential to fully understand the outbreak’s scope, improve surveillance, and strengthen prevention and response efforts. Countries like Ireland are working closely with organizations such as WHO and ECDC to inform risk assessments, highlighting the risk of wider regional and international spread. A unified approach is needed, especially as vulnerable groups like women, girls, and frontline health workers face increased risks. Addressing these challenges demands urgent, collective action and resource mobilization.