This is the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak on record. It has reached three regions of Africa (Central, East, and West) plus one imported case in Europe, farther than any previous epidemic.
Current situation by country (as of ~20–23 October 2026)
Democratic Republic of the Congo (epicenter)
- Roughly 9,500–9,700+ confirmed cases and approximately 4,600–4,700 deaths (case fatality rate around 48%).
- Affects eight provinces (Ituri remains by far the hardest hit, followed by North Kivu; newer spread into Nord-Ubangi near the Central African Republic border).
- Dozens of health zones involved. Transmission continues, with a high share of community deaths (outside treatment centres) and many new cases still appearing outside known contact chains.
- Thousands of contacts are under daily monitoring. Recovery numbers are in the mid-2,000s.
Uganda
- About 20 confirmed cases (mostly linked to travel or border movement from DRC) and a small number of deaths.
- The outbreak was declared over (no new cases for the required period); Uganda is no longer considered to have active transmission.
Kenya
- Nine confirmed cases (one death), all linked to a single imported index case: a Kenyan who had been in the DRC, travelled via Uganda, and arrived in Nairobi in early October.
- Subsequent cases have been among family contacts and caregivers already under quarantine/surveillance. No evidence so far of wider community spread beyond this cluster. Contact tracing and quarantine remain intensive.
Nigeria
- One confirmed imported case (reported 20 October) in Abuja: a woman who arrived from Uganda around 3 October, developed symptoms on 7 October, sought care on 11 October, and tested positive later.
- Dozens of contacts (initially ~44) are being followed. Investigations into her exact exposure and travel history are ongoing; authorities are treating it as an imported case with risk of secondary transmission if contacts were missed.
France
- One earlier imported case (a healthcare worker returning from a mission in a transmission zone in the DRC). The person received specialised care and recovered. This remains the only case reported outside Africa in this outbreak.
Key context and challenges
- Virus strain: Bundibugyo ebolavirus is less common than the Zaire strain that caused the large 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic. There is currently no specifically approved vaccine or treatment licensed for BDBV (the Ervebo vaccine targets Zaire). Supportive care, isolation, contact tracing, and infection-prevention measures are the main tools. Some experimental or cross-protection approaches may be under consideration, but they are not standard.
- Scale and speed: This is already the deadliest Ebola outbreak in DRC history and has been described by health authorities as the fastest-growing on record. Detection was relatively late, giving the virus a head start in a region with insecurity, poor infrastructure, high population movement, and limited healthcare access.
- Response pressures: High community transmission, delayed case finding, and logistical difficulties (especially in eastern DRC) continue to hinder containment. Africa CDC, WHO, and national authorities have called for stronger regional coordination, enhanced border surveillance, and more resources. A meeting of African health ministers was planned for late October.
- Risk assessment: Imported cases in Kenya and Nigeria show how travel can seed new clusters. So far those secondary cases appear contained within known contacts, but any gaps in surveillance raise the possibility of further spread. Neighbouring countries remain on high alert.
The situation is dynamic. Figures are updated frequently by DRC health authorities, WHO, Africa CDC, and ECDC, and numbers can shift as data are cleaned or new cases are confirmed. For the absolute latest official tallies, check sources such as WHO, Africa CDC, ECDC situation reports, or the national ministries of health involved.
