At least 930 people have died in Congo's Ebola outbreak

July 20, 2026 - 16:20

Congo's health ministry has reported that the ongoing Ebola outbreak has now killed at least 930 people. The update marks a grim milestone in the country's struggle to contain the virus, which has been spreading in the eastern provinces for over a year. Health officials say the number of confirmed and probable cases has also risen, with more than 1,400 infections recorded since the outbreak was declared in August 2018.

The outbreak is the second deadliest in history, trailing only the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa that killed more than 11,000 people. Efforts to control the virus have been hampered by community mistrust, armed conflict, and attacks on health workers. In some areas, responders have faced violence and resistance, making it difficult to track contacts and administer vaccines.

The World Health Organization has described the situation as a public health emergency of international concern. Despite the availability of an experimental vaccine, which has been given to over 200,000 people, the virus continues to spread in remote and densely populated areas near the borders of Rwanda and Uganda. Health authorities are urging increased international support to prevent the outbreak from crossing into neighboring countries.