The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has claimed 828 lives, with the number of confirmed infections rising to 2,124 as of July 15.
In its latest Disease Outbreak News, the UN health agency said the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, continues to spread despite intensified surveillance, testing and response efforts.
WHO said 390 patients have recovered from the disease, while the case fatality ratio stands at 39 per cent.
The agency noted that “since 3 July 2026, an additional 664 confirmed cases, including 376 confirmed deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
According to WHO, the sharp increase is partly due to expanded surveillance, testing and improved diagnostic capacity, which has enabled health authorities to detect more infections.
Despite these improvements, the agency warned that the outbreak remains a major public health concern, citing persistent transmission in affected communities and the continued risk of further spread.
WHO stressed that response efforts are focused on strengthening case detection, contact tracing, treatment, infection prevention and community engagement to curb transmission.
The organization also reaffirmed that international collaboration remains critical to containing the outbreak, particularly as the affected regions continue to face humanitarian and logistical challenges.
The latest figures come amid growing concern over funding gaps for the Ebola response, with WHO previously warning that inadequate financial support could undermine efforts to contain the outbreak.
