Ebola Toll Rises to 3,759 Deaths Among 7,773 Cases as Response Expands Contact Tracing

DRC's Ministry of Communication and Media reported 7,773 confirmed Ebola (Bundibugyo virus) cases and 3,759 deaths as of Sept 23, 2026, up from 7,541 cases and 3,639 deaths on Sept 18 — a rise of 232 cases and 120 deaths in five days. In the preceding 24 hours, 33 new recoveries were recorded (17 in North Kivu, 12 in Ituri, 4 in Haut-Uélé), bringing total recoveries to 1,935, while 839 people remained in isolation or hospitalized. The response, now spanning 63 health zones across seven provinces, reported contact-tracing coverage of 84.5%. Authorities opened the Matanda Ebola Treatment Center in Katwa and strengthened medical capacity in Butembo, while prevention outreach expanded to schools, training 542 educational leaders to detect symptoms. A public hotline (151) remains open for reporting suspected cases.