GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reports signs of improvement in certain regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the fight against Ebola. Transmission rates have decreased in multiple zones, notably in Ituri province, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak. As of September 13, national statistics indicated a total of 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths across seven provinces. Additionally, there have been 1,726 recoveries, with the case fatality ratio overall at 48.4%.
South Kivu has reported no new Ebola cases since May, further evidence of progress in certain affected regions. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described recent trends as encouraging signs following months of widespread transmission. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the outbreak still expands and results in fatalities. Authorities have confirmed cases across 62 health zones, highlighting significant disparities between provinces. While some locations experience declining transmission, others are witnessing sharp increases, illustrating the uneven nature of the epidemic.
Despite a recent slowdown, Ituri continues to account for the largest proportion of cases. Recent reports indicate approximately 300 new infections and 160 deaths there during the latest weekly period, representing nearly half of the national case count for that timeframe. In contrast, North Kivu has demonstrated a different pattern, with weekly case numbers nearly doubling from about 100 to over 200 within two weeks as response efforts monitor the growing spread of the virus.
Sharp weekly rise in infections reported in North Kivu
The current outbreak was officially declared in mid-May 2026, with laboratory findings confirming the Bundibugyo virus disease as the cause. Since then, the epidemic has expanded across a broad region of the country. While Ituri remains the province with the highest cumulative case load, North Kivu ranks second. Haut-Uélé continues to report cases as well. The virus has also reached Sud-Ubangi, bringing the total number of affected provinces to seven and broadening the scope of ongoing response efforts.
Clinical research has become integral to the Ebola response, with health teams conducting trials involving treatments and post-exposure prophylaxis, which has seen increased participation. WHO, along with national health agencies, persist in surveillance activities, laboratory testing, contact tracing, isolation, and clinical management. Monitoring local transmission trends remains critical because infection levels vary significantly between provinces and health zones. Recent data reveal that national totals alone do not fully represent the uneven transmission pattern across the country.
Response efforts extend to seven provinces impacted by Ebola
Support from national health authorities, WHO, Africa CDC, and other partners continues to bolster frontline teams in affected regions. Insecurity and displacement complicate access in parts of eastern and northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which can hinder surveillance, contact tracing, and timely medical intervention. Response teams operate within mining communities, informal settlements, and displacement sites, many of which have limited healthcare services, sanitation, and transportation infrastructure, adding operational challenges to containment efforts.
Recent confirmed figures demonstrate progress in some locations, yet the outbreak continues to exact a heavy toll nationally. South Kivu remains free of new cases for months, and Ituri reports lower transmission than earlier in the epidemic. Conversely, North Kivu continues to see rising weekly infections. Consequently, health officials are closely monitoring each province individually as transmission patterns fluctuate across the country. The outbreak’s scale remains substantial, with more than 3,500 confirmed deaths and thousands of cases still recorded.