DR Congo Ebola toll tops 3,700 as WHO warns outbreak remains uncontrolled
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak has killed over 3,700 people, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday, as transmission surges in North Kivu province while declining in Ituri and Haut…
Source: United Nations News · September 23, 2026 at 12:54 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak has killed over 3,700 people, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday, as transmission surges in North Kivu province while declining in Ituri and Haut Uele.
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Cases in North Kivu rose 73% over the past 21 days, reversing earlier declines, while Ituri and Haut Uele saw reductions of 26% and 15% respectively. WHO Regional Emergency Director for Africa, Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, said the outbreak remains uncontrolled, with nearly one-third of new infections detected only after deaths outside treatment centers.
“Too many people are still dying before reaching care,” Belizaire said, noting that community deaths increase transmission risks through traditional burial practices. Children under five face a 60% fatality rate—higher than the 40% average for adults—due to delayed diagnosis, according to WHO medic Dr. Catherine Smallwood.
The WHO operates 49 treatment centers with 1,400 beds and 25 labs processing 2,500 tests daily, yet contact tracing success remains at 88%. Smallwood warned that nearly half of new cases lack clear transmission links, highlighting surveillance gaps. The biggest challenge, she said, is the human resources shortage in rural areas, where delays in referring patients to urban centers like Beni and Butembo prolong outbreaks.
The WHO is shifting focus to decentralized care in remote villages, where distances and infrastructure hinder rapid response. Smallwood emphasized that “distances are long and delays in referrals worsen the spread,” calling for prioritized rural deployment.
The outbreak, now in its fifth month, risks escalating like the 2014–2016 West African epidemic, which killed over 11,000 people and spread across borders. While Malaysia faces no direct threat, the WHO’s warning underscores global health vulnerabilities that could affect travel, trade, and corporate risk assessments for firms with African exposure.
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Related: World Health Organization · Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire · Democratic Republic of Congo