DR Congo Ebola Deaths Hit 600 as 51 New Cases Deepen Bundibugyo Outbreak
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 9
DR Congo Ebola Deaths Hit 600 as 51 New Cases Deepen Bundibugyo Outbreak
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 9
Summary
Government data showed at least 600 deaths and 1,759 confirmed Ebola cases in DR Congo by Tuesday, after 51 new infections and 20 deaths were recorded in the previous 24 hours.
Two additional suspected cases in Kisangani were still being validated and were not yet in the official tally; one is linked to Nia-Nia in Ituri, while the other has no known geographic link beyond the city.
Ituri health workers — in the hardest-hit region — have begun walking off the job over delayed pay, with some saying they have received no wages or bonuses since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
The disruption comes as clinical trial enrolment starts for treatments targeting the Bundibugyo strain, which is generally less deadly than other Ebola variants but has no approved vaccine.
WHO declared the outbreak a global health emergency in May, after the virus had already spread undetected for weeks through mining towns including Mongbwalu, Rwampara and Bunia.
With a $1 billion economic threat looming, is the DRC's Ebola outbreak becoming a crisis deadlier than the virus itself?
Can experimental drugs stop a new Ebola strain when the healthcare system is collapsing from conflict and strikes?
2026 Bundibugyo Ebola Crisis: Record-Breaking Spread, No Approved Vaccine, and International Emergency Response
Overview
As of early July 2026, the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains under close watch, with the World Health Organization strengthening community surveillance in North Kivu to prevent further cases. Daily alerts from field laboratories are actively investigated by health authorities. In areas controlled by the M23 group, both local claims and WHO confirmation indicate no new cases and the release of all identified contacts, resulting in no current reports of confirmed cases from these zones. These efforts highlight the ongoing, targeted response to contain the outbreak in a challenging environment.