DRC health minister warns ‘very high’ Ebola lethality rate as toll hits 80

May 17, 2026 - 01:32

The Democratic Republic of Congo's health minister has issued a stark warning about the escalating Ebola outbreak, describing the current lethality rate as "very high" after the death toll climbed to 80. The minister's comments come as the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expresses growing concern that the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, could spread rapidly due to intense population movement across the region.

Unlike the more common Zaire strain, the Bundibugyo variant has a historically lower fatality rate, but the current surge in deaths has caught health officials off guard. The Africa CDC noted that the virus is now appearing in densely populated areas, where displacement and travel between towns are complicating containment efforts. Health workers are struggling to trace contacts and isolate cases quickly enough to prevent further transmission.

The outbreak, which began in a remote area, has now reached urban centers, raising fears of a wider regional crisis. The Africa CDC has called for immediate cross-border surveillance and community engagement to curb the spread. Without swift action, officials warn that the disease could overwhelm already fragile health systems in neighboring countries.