DRC Ebola Epidemic Becomes World's Second-Largest Outbreak on Record

WHO's Disease Outbreak News dated 31 July/1 August 2026 put the epidemic at 3,626 confirmed cases (3,605 DRC, 20 Uganda, 1 France) and 1,589 deaths, a 44% case fatality ratio, surpassing the DRC's 2018-2020 Kivu outbreak (~3,470 cases) to become the largest ever recorded in the country and the second-largest anywhere after the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic (28,616 cases). Epidemiological week 30 (through 26 July) was the worst yet, with 567 new cases and 296 deaths in a single week. WFP acting chief Carl Skau called it 'the fastest spreading Ebola epidemic that we have ever seen,' while Caritas' Angele Gapio said 'the disease has now settled in the community.' Officials cited security threats from armed groups, depleted foreign aid, and reliance on traditional healers as key obstacles to containment.