The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which began in May 2026 and is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has become the largest and fastest-growing outbreak ever recorded in the country. As of September 25, 2026, there have been 7,989 confirmed cases and 3,852 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 48.2%. The outbreak has spread to seven provinces, with North Kivu province experiencing a particularly high mortality rate of over 60% for diagnosed individuals. This crisis is placing immense strain on the DRC's already fragile health system, diverting resources and personnel from routine care to the Ebola response. The international community has mobilized approximately $3 billion in support, with the U.S. contributing $887 million, the European Union and European Commission $568 million, and the World Bank $433 million, but there's a need for these commitments to translate into faster on-the-ground delivery.
The indirect humanitarian impacts of the outbreak are significant, especially concerning essential health services. Between April and June 2026, the use of primary healthcare services in Ituri's four main hotspots (Bunia, Mongbwalu, Nizi, and Rwampara) dropped by 42%, and by an estimated 13% across Ituri Province. Routine childhood vaccinations have been severely affected, with a 69% decline in first-dose measles vaccinations in Mongbwalu and a 22% drop in the third dose of pentavalent vaccine province-wide. Health facilities administered over 23,000 fewer routine child vaccine doses in May and June compared to April. Maternal health services have also seen substantial declines; facility-assisted deliveries fell by 13% across the province, and by 38% in Bunia, 30% in Rwampara, and 70% in Nizi. First antenatal care visits decreased by about 28% in these hotspots, leading to a doubling of maternal mortality across Ituri, from an average of 3.1 deaths weekly before the outbreak to 5.8 deaths from May 25 to July 19. Deaths outside health centers also increased from 9.1% to 17.4% in the same period.
Fear of infection, disruptions to services, and a lack of community education are identified as key factors deterring people from seeking care. For instance, one doctor reported that his facility, which previously saw 500 patients monthly, now sees almost none. The number of women registered for prenatal care at the Bénédicte Clinic in Bunia dropped from 60 to around 10 per month. Children are particularly vulnerable, accounting for nearly one in four confirmed Ebola cases and almost one in three deaths. Young children under five face a case fatality rate over 60%, more than double that of adults. UNICEF has revised its six-month appeal to $113.45 million to sustain and expand interventions, but an $89.9 million funding gap remains. Organizations like UNICEF and Africa CDC are working with the Ministry of Health and WHO to train and deploy community actors to provide guidance on Ebola prevention and early detection, reaching over 2.4 million people.
