DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Expands to Two New Health Zones, WHO Reports

GENEVA — WHO officials said on Friday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has expanded to two additional health zones, raising the total number of confirmed cases to nearly 7,900 and deaths to about 3,800. The announcement came as the international community watches the virus’s spread in the eastern province of North Kivu.

WHO’s latest update

In a statement released at 22:16 GMT, the World Health Organization confirmed that the outbreak, which began in August 2026, now includes two more health zones in North Kivu. The agency noted that the cumulative case count has reached 7,892, with 3,801 confirmed deaths. The figures represent a 12 percent rise in cases and a 9 percent rise in deaths since the last update on 18 September.

The WHO’s regional office in Africa, led by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the spread to new zones underscores the need for intensified contact tracing, community engagement, and rapid response teams. The agency also highlighted the importance of maintaining vaccination coverage, noting that the current campaign has reached 1.2 million people across the affected provinces.

Impact on local health infrastructure

Health facilities in North Kivu are operating at near capacity. Hospitals in Goma and Beni have reported a 70 percent occupancy rate for Ebola treatment units. The surge in cases has strained supplies of personal protective equipment and medical oxygen, prompting appeals to international donors for additional resources.

Local authorities have intensified efforts to isolate suspected cases and conduct community education. The provincial health directorate has deployed mobile teams to the new health zones to conduct screening and provide psychosocial support to families affected by the disease.

Historical context of the outbreak

The current outbreak is the third major Ebola epidemic in DR Congo since 2018. The 2018–2020 outbreak, which began in the Ituri province, claimed 2,287 deaths and prompted a global response that included the deployment of the WHO’s emergency response team and the use of the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine. The 2021 outbreak in the same region was contained after 12 weeks, with 48 confirmed cases and 32 deaths.

Experts say that the virus’s persistence in the region is linked to challenges in surveillance, community trust, and the region’s complex security situation. The eastern provinces have experienced intermittent armed conflict, which hampers the delivery of health services and the implementation of containment measures.

International response and funding

In response to the WHO’s announcement, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has called for an additional $30 million in emergency funding to support treatment, contact tracing, and community outreach. The World Bank has pledged $15 million to strengthen health system resilience in the affected provinces.

Non-governmental organizations operating in the region, including Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, have increased their field presence. They report that community health workers are conducting door-to-door visits to identify suspected cases and distribute educational materials on Ebola prevention.

Vaccination campaign progress

The WHO’s vaccination program, which began in late August, has administered 1,200,000 doses of the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine. The campaign targets high-risk populations, including healthcare workers, caregivers, and individuals living in the most affected health zones. The agency reports a 95 percent coverage rate among the target group.

Despite the high coverage, the WHO cautions that vaccine-induced immunity takes several weeks to develop, and that continued vigilance is necessary. The agency has urged communities to maintain strict adherence to isolation protocols and to report any suspected cases immediately.

Future outlook

WHO officials emphasize that the outbreak remains in the containment phase, but the expansion to new health zones signals a potential shift toward a more widespread transmission. The agency is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared to deploy additional resources if the trend continues.

Health officials in DR Congo have pledged to maintain transparency and to coordinate closely with international partners. They also plan to conduct a comprehensive review of the outbreak response to identify lessons for future epidemics.