Published on: 2026-08-04
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 3, 2026 Healthcare
Over the past weekend, the number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continued to rise rapidly. Against this background, with the support of the UN, new medical centers are opening in the eastern part of the country to help fight the outbreak of this deadly disease.
As of August 1, the health authorities of the DRC reported 3,748 confirmed cases of Ebola in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Upper Uele, and Tshopo. Over the past two months, the outbreak has spread to five provinces and now affects 49 zones. The epidemic remains active in 33 of them, with reports of new cases continuing to come in.
Ituri remains the most affected region of the country – accounting for 88 percent of all confirmed cases and 82.6 percent of the registered deaths nationwide.
“Ebola spreads quickly and affects people who are already facing conflicts and hunger,” said Karl Skau, acting head of the World Food Programme (WFP), after visiting eastern DRC. “Local communities hold the key to ending the epidemic, but they need support.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the current outbreak is the largest in the country and has already surpassed the figures from 2018–2020, when 3,317 cases were confirmed.
During the past week, the highest weekly number of registered infection cases (567) and deaths (296) was recorded, highlighting the exceptionally rapid rate of virus transmission.
Inside the “red zone”
The hardest-hit areas are in the “red zone,” where rescue operations are underway. UN agencies and partners, including the US and the International Medical Corps, helped establish a transit center at the displaced persons camp on the outskirts of Bunia, the capital of Ituri province.
This center will simplify the detection of infection and the referral of patients with Ebola to treatment centers. This week, the UN and its humanitarian partners will also open the largest Ebola treatment center in the DRC with one hundred beds. However, experts warn that efforts need to be significantly expanded to eliminate the outbreak.
“The convergence of factors such as lack of security and mass displacement of the population complicates response operations and increases the risk of further geographic spread of the disease,” the WHO stated, reminding that about 270,000 people fleeing violence are currently living in temporary camps throughout Ituri province. The living conditions in such camps contribute to the rapid further spread of the disease.
Expanding assistance as needs grow
When the previous outbreak was announced at the end of last year, UN agencies together with Congolese health authorities opened an innovative Ebola treatment center capable of accommodating 25 patients.
Since then, tons of medical supplies have been sent to the DRC, and the number of beds in the affected areas has increased. This week, WHO handed over another 30 beds and 38 mattresses to local medical personnel.
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