Ebola outbreak in DR Congo becomes largest in country’s history – WHO

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing the largest Ebola outbreak in its history, in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The nation has recorded 10,668 confirmed circumstances and 5,198 deaths as of three November 2026.

The outbreak has unfold throughout 67 well being zones in eight provinces, with energetic transmission persevering with in 51 well being zones as of three November 2026.

The WHO disclosed this in its Disease Outbreak News report printed on 6 November, including that the nation has additionally recorded 2,881 recoveries.

According to the report, 964 extra confirmed circumstances, together with 511 deaths, had been reported since WHO’s earlier outbreak replace of 23 October.

Five international locations affected

Since the outbreak, brought on by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared on 15 May 2026, 5 international locations have reported circumstances: DRC, France, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.

However, the outbreaks in France and Uganda have been introduced underneath management since August, whereas Kenya and Nigeria proceed their response efforts.

The newest WHO report mentioned no new circumstances had been reported in Kenya or Nigeria since its earlier replace of 23 October.

Describing the size of the outbreak in the DRC, WHO mentioned it had change into “the largest Ebola disease outbreak ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo irrespective of virus species.”

Community deaths increase concern

The WHO expressed concern over the excessive variety of deaths occurring outdoors remedy centres, significantly amongst younger kids, highlighting the difficulties in figuring out circumstances early and guaranteeing sufferers obtain well timed medical care.

Of the 512 deaths reported in the DRC since 21 October, 335 occurred in communities, whereas 177 have been recorded in remedy centres.

“The high proportion of deaths occurring in communities, especially among young children, continues to highlight challenges in early case detection and timely access to appropriate care,” WHO mentioned.

WHO famous that the outbreak stays concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, which account for many confirmed circumstances and deaths.

Ituri has recorded 7,485 circumstances and three,532 deaths, whereas North Kivu has reported 2,593 circumstances and 1,422 deaths.

The WHO mentioned 1,463 new confirmed circumstances have been recorded throughout the DRC in the 21 days main as much as 3 November, with Ituri and North Kivu accounting for a lot of the infections.

Nigeria’s Ebola response

In Nigeria, the WHO reported one laboratory-confirmed imported case of Bundibugyo virus illness in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on 20 October.

The affected person was medically evacuated to Switzerland on 26 October and stays in isolation whereas receiving medical care in Geneva.

As of three November, WHO famous that 62 contacts had been recognized in Nigeria, with six finishing the obligatory 21-day follow-up interval.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in its situation report published on 4 November, additionally confirmed that six contacts had accomplished their follow-up, whereas 56 remained underneath monitoring.

The company reported no newly recognized contacts or symptomatic contacts in the course of the previous 24 hours.

The WHO mentioned Nigerian authorities, with help from the organisation and different companions, had intensified contact tracing, case investigations and an infection prevention measures.

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Investigations are additionally ongoing to determine the possible supply of the an infection and reconstruct the affected person’s journey and publicity history.

What is Bundibugyo virus illness?

Bundibugyo virus illness is a extreme type of Ebola illness brought on by the Bundibugyo virus, one of many viruses in the Orthoebolavirus genus.

According to the WHO, it’s a zoonotic illness, that means it will probably unfold from animals to people. Fruit bats are suspected to be its pure reservoir.

Initial human infections are thought to happen by way of contact with the blood or secretions of contaminated wildlife, together with bats and non-human primates.

The virus subsequently spreads between folks by way of direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs and different bodily fluids of contaminated people. It also can unfold by way of contaminated surfaces and supplies.

The incubation interval ranges from two to 21 days, and contaminated persons are not infectious earlier than signs seem. Early signs embody fever, fatigue, muscle ache, headache and sore throat. These could progress to vomiting, diarrhoea, organ dysfunction and, in some circumstances, bleeding.

The WHO famous that early signs can resemble different sicknesses, together with malaria, so laboratory testing is vital to substantiate the prognosis.

No vaccines or particular remedies are at present authorised for Bundibugyo virus illness. The WHO mentioned controlling the outbreak relies on early identification and isolation of circumstances, medical care, contact tracing, secure burial practices and group engagement.