GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – According to the World Health Organization, certain regions within the Democratic Republic of the Congo demonstrate signs of advancement in the battle against Ebola. Case numbers have decreased in multiple locations, notably in Ituri province, which remains the outbreak’s primary hotspot. As of September 13, national statistics recorded 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths across seven provinces. The country also reported 1,726 recoveries, with a case fatality ratio of 48.4% overall.
Since May, South Kivu has seen no new Ebola cases, adding evidence to the improvement in some affected regions. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus indicated that recent trends provided promising signs after months of extensive transmission. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the outbreak continues to expand and result in fatalities. Health authorities have identified cases in 62 health zones, highlighting significant disparities between provinces. While some areas experience declining transmission, others are witnessing sharp rises in cases across the country.
Despite a recent slowdown, Ituri still reports the highest number of cases, with health officials noting approximately 300 new infections and 160 deaths in the latest weekly period. These figures account for nearly half of the national total for that week. Conversely, North Kivu has followed a different trajectory, with weekly cases nearly doubling over two weeks—from around 100 to over 200—as response teams monitor the spreading transmission.
North Kivu Experiences Significant Surge in Weekly Cases
The outbreak was officially declared in mid-May 2026, with laboratory tests confirming Bundibugyo virus disease as the source. Since then, the epidemic has extended into many parts of the country. Ituri continues to carry the highest overall burden, with North Kivu ranking second. Haut-Uélé also reports ongoing cases, while the virus has reached Sud-Ubangi, expanding the number of affected provinces to seven and broadening the scope of containment efforts.
Research efforts have become a crucial component of the response, with health teams actively engaging in affected communities. Trials involving treatments and post-exposure prophylaxis have grown as participation increases. WHO and national health agencies continue to conduct surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, isolation, and clinical care. Because infection rates vary widely between provinces and health zones, officials closely track local trends, recognizing that national totals alone do not reflect the uneven transmission patterns.
Response Efforts Cover Seven Provinces with Active Cases
Support from the national government, WHO, Africa CDC, and other partners remains vital for frontline teams operating across the affected regions. Ongoing insecurity and displacement in eastern and northern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo hinder access, complicating surveillance, contact tracing, and timely healthcare. Teams also focus on mining communities, informal settlements, and displacement sites, where limited health infrastructure, sanitation, and transportation pose additional operational challenges in efforts to contain the virus.
The latest verified data reveals progress in several locations, though the outbreak still inflicts a significant toll nationwide. South Kivu has been free of new cases for months, and Ituri reports lower transmission than earlier in the epidemic. Conversely, North Kivu continues to see an increase in weekly cases. Consequently, health officials monitor each province independently as transmission patterns evolve across the country. The outbreak’s scale remains marked by over 3,500 confirmed deaths and thousands of cases.