Bunia: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases, with 4,887 deaths reported as health authorities struggle to contain the disease and prevent further spread. The outbreak has also raised concerns across Africa following the detection of cases outside the country, including in Kenya and Nigeria, while an infected woman has been evacuated to Switzerland for treatment.
The latest figures, based on Congolese government data reported on October 27, put the total number of confirmed cases at 10,060. The outbreak continues to place heavy pressure on health services, particularly in areas where insecurity, poor transport links and difficulties in tracing infected people are making the response more challenging.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola virus that can cause severe illness and death. It was declared on May 15, 2026, and has since spread across several parts of the country. The scale of the outbreak has made it a major public health concern for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries.
According to the World Health Organization, the outbreak had affected 66 health zones across eight provinces by October 20. It initially began in three health zones. Ituri province remains a major centre of the outbreak, while North Kivu and other provinces have also reported infections and deaths.
The rising number of cases has highlighted the difficulties health workers face in identifying infected people and preventing further transmission. Many cases have been identified outside known contact tracing networks, making it harder for authorities to determine how the virus is spreading and which people may have been exposed.
Health officials have also expressed concern about deaths occurring outside treatment centres. A significant proportion of reported deaths have involved people who did not receive care at these facilities. This points to continuing challenges in early diagnosis and access to treatment.
The response has been complicated by armed conflict and insecurity in some affected areas. Poor roads make it difficult to transport patients, medical supplies and response teams. Misinformation and mistrust among some communities have also created obstacles to testing, treatment and contact tracing.
Healthcare workers have faced additional difficulties, including hostility and attacks in some areas. Reports of delayed payments to response workers have raised further concerns about the ability to maintain essential services during a prolonged emergency.
The outbreak has also disrupted other health services. Pressure on medical facilities has affected routine healthcare, including vaccination activities and efforts to respond to other diseases. Families in affected communities are facing additional hardship as health services struggle to meet growing demands.
Outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya has reported an Ebola cluster linked to an imported case. Reports available earlier in the outbreak response recorded nine cases, including one death, by October 20. The initial patient had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo through Uganda before reaching Nairobi. Other cases were identified among people who had contact with that patient. The latest Kenyan death toll should be confirmed with health authorities before publication.
Nigeria has also reported an imported case. The patient, a Swiss woman, had travelled from Uganda to Nigeria and tested positive on October 20. Investigations have been under way to establish the likely source of infection and identify people who may have been exposed.
In a further international development, the infected woman was evacuated from Nigeria to Geneva, Switzerland, on October 26. Her husband, a Swiss diplomat, was also evacuated and placed in isolation because of his close contact with her. The source of the woman's infection remained under investigation, and the available information did not establish where she contracted the virus.
Uganda remains important to the regional response because of the travel routes involved in the Kenyan and Nigerian cases. The country declared its own Ebola outbreak over in August after 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case. The latest regional developments have highlighted the importance of continued surveillance, preparedness and cooperation between neighbouring countries.
Efforts are also under way to evaluate vaccines against the Bundibugyo virus. A clinical trial known as TUMAINI was launched on October 23 in Bunia, in Ituri province, to assess vaccine candidates. The trial is an important step in research against the virus, but it does not mean that an approved vaccine is available. Patients can still receive supportive care and appropriate medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention scheduled a high level meeting of African health ministers for October 28 to discuss a coordinated response. The meeting comes as health authorities seek to strengthen cooperation, improve surveillance and prevent further spread across national borders. Any decisions announced at the meeting should be confirmed before being included in reports about new regional measures.
The World Health Organization previously assessed the risk within the Democratic Republic of the Congo as very high and the risk for countries sharing land borders with the country as high. In its October 23 report, the organisation assessed the risk for the rest of Africa and the wider world as lower, while noting that it was reviewing the situation as new information emerged.
Containing the outbreak will depend on early diagnosis, effective contact tracing, access to treatment and cooperation from affected communities. Health authorities must also ensure that response teams can reach vulnerable populations safely and that people receive reliable information about the disease.
The growing number of infections and the detection of cases beyond the Democratic Republic of the Congo underline the need for a coordinated regional response. Continued surveillance and timely medical care will be essential to identifying new cases and limiting further transmission.