GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reports that certain areas within the Democratic Republic of the Congo are demonstrating improvements in controlling Ebola. Infections have decreased in multiple zones, notably in Ituri province, which remains the primary epicenter. As of September 13, national data indicated 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 fatalities across seven provinces. The outbreak has also resulted in 1,726 recoveries, with a case fatality rate of 48.4%.
South Kivu has not reported new Ebola cases since May, suggesting some regions are experiencing positive developments. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that recent trends provide encouraging signs after months of widespread transmission. Nevertheless, the outbreak persists, expanding to cause additional deaths. Authorities have identified cases in 62 health zones, highlighting significant disparities between provinces. While transmission has slowed in some areas, it has sharply increased in others across the country.
Despite a recent decline, Ituri continues to report the highest number of cases, with approximately 300 new infections and 160 deaths during the latest weekly period, accounting for nearly half of the country’s total for that period. Conversely, North Kivu experienced a near doubling of weekly cases over two weeks, rising from about 100 to over 200 as response teams monitored the expanding transmission.
North Kivu experiences significant rise in weekly infections
The current outbreak was officially declared in mid-May 2026, with laboratory testing confirming Bundibugyo virus disease as the cause. Since then, the epidemic has spread extensively across the country. Ituri remains the province with the highest overall case count, followed by North Kivu. Haut-Uélé also continues to report cases, and the virus has reached Sud-Ubangi, expanding the affected regions to seven and broadening the scope of response efforts.
Efforts to combat Ebola now include clinical research, with health teams conducting trials on treatments and post-exposure prophylaxis, as participation levels grow. WHO and national health authorities continue ongoing surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, contact tracing, patient isolation, and clinical treatment. Because transmission varies significantly between provinces and zones, authorities closely monitor local trends to better understand the outbreak’s uneven landscape. The latest figures reveal that national totals alone do not fully reflect the varied transmission patterns across the country.
Response efforts extend across seven provinces affected by Ebola
Support from national health agencies, WHO, Africa CDC, and other partners remains vital for frontline teams operating in affected regions. Difficulties stemming from insecurity and displacement hinder access in eastern and northern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These challenges can impede surveillance, contact tracing, and timely healthcare delivery. Response teams are also active in mining communities, informal settlements, and displacement sites, many of which lack adequate health services, sanitation, and transportation. Such conditions increase operational demands as teams strive to contain the outbreak.
Recent official figures show progress in some areas, but the outbreak continues to impose a significant toll on the nation. South Kivu has remained free of new cases for months, and Ituri reports reduced transmission compared to earlier phases. In contrast, North Kivu continues to see rising weekly infections. Consequently, health officials monitor each province individually, as transmission patterns fluctuate across the country. More than 3,500 confirmed deaths and thousands of cases underscore the outbreak’s ongoing severity.
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