GENEVA, Switzerland / AfricaWire.IO / – The Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded 9,765 Ebola cases and 4,727 deaths as new clusters emerge in remote parts of the country, the World Health Organization said. WHO called for stronger epidemiological surveillance to contain the spread of the virus. It warned that insecurity and logistical obstacles are making some affected areas hard to reach. Around 30,000 contacts are being monitored every day.
The figures were given by Dr. Catherine Smallwood, WHO’s Incident Manager in the country. She said nearly half of the people infected have died. Each contact is monitored daily for three weeks, covering the period in which symptoms can develop. “The positive fact is that 2,600 people in the DRC have survived Ebola,” Smallwood said.
WHO urged more funding along with medical and logistical support for the response. It also called for stronger local response capacity and faster detection of cases. Areas affected by conflict, displacement and food insecurity need particular attention, the agency said. WHO asked countries in the region to increase surveillance and health checks at border crossings, but advised against restricting travel or trade with affected countries.
Funding and access remain key challenges
The response has faced resource gaps for months. In September, WHO warned that staff and funding shortages were slowing the response in the country. The current outbreak, caused by Bundibugyo virus, began in May 2026 and is the largest ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Congolese authorities declared the outbreak on May 15 after infections emerged in the northeast. Remote and conflict-affected areas remain the hardest for health teams to reach.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said eight provinces were affected as of October 21. They include Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uélé and Bas-Uélé, along with Sud-Ubangi and Nord-Ubangi. The agency counted 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths in data up to October 20. The death toll had risen above 4,000 in early October.
Kenya and Nigeria report linked cases
The outbreak has also spread beyond the country’s borders. Kenya has confirmed 9 cases, including 1 death, all linked to its first reported case. Its latest case, a close contact of the first patient, was reported on October 20. On the same day, Nigeria reported a case in a person who had travelled to Uganda, and 44 contacts have since been identified.
Uganda reported infections earlier in the outbreak but has since ended its own outbreak. Four cases have been imported to or evacuated to Europe since May, including three medical evacuations to Germany and the Netherlands. The European agency rates the risk for people living in the European Union as very low, and the risk for residents travelling to affected areas as low. WHO said stronger local capacity and faster detection are vital to stopping the virus.
