The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has entered a critical phase, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise the country’s risk level to “very high” as infections and deaths continue to rise.
As of May 23, 2026, suspected cases have approached 750, with 177 deaths recorded, deepening concerns among global health authorities.
Health experts say the outbreak is especially dangerous because it involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or proven treatment.
The outbreak is concentrated in the conflict-affected eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, where healthcare workers are battling both the spread of the virus and worsening insecurity.
Efforts to contain the outbreak have been complicated by community mistrust and violence against health personnel. In one incident, angry residents reportedly set fire to a hospital in Rwampara after medical teams attempted to enforce Ebola burial protocols.
Authorities say ongoing regional conflict and displacement of populations have further undermined contact tracing and surveillance efforts in several high-transmission communities.
Although WHO continues to assess the global risk as low, the regional threat level has been classified as “high” following the confirmation of two Ebola cases in neighbouring Uganda.
The spread beyond DR Congo’s borders has triggered heightened surveillance measures across East and Central Africa, with neighbouring countries strengthening border screening and emergency preparedness systems.
International concern has also increased after a United States surgeon who contracted the virus while working in DR Congo was medically evacuated to a specialised isolation facility in Berlin for treatment.
In response to the outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has elevated its travel advisory to Level 3 and introduced enhanced entry screening procedures for travellers arriving from affected areas.
Meanwhile, scientists are racing to develop a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain.
Researchers at University of Oxford are reportedly fast-tracking a candidate vaccine, with clinical trials expected to begin within the next eight to twelve weeks.
Until a vaccine becomes available, health officials say the response will continue to depend on rapid isolation of infected persons, safe burial practices, public education and aggressive contact tracing under extremely difficult conditions.
Health authorities warn that the outbreak remains at a tipping point and could worsen significantly if containment efforts are not strengthened immediately.
