GENEVA, Switzerland / AfricaWire.IO / – The World Health Organization has called for stronger epidemiological surveillance after new Ebola clusters were detected in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The agency warned that security and logistical challenges are limiting access to some areas and complicating efforts to contain the virus. The country has recorded 9,765 cases to date, and 4,727 people have died. About 30,000 contacts are being monitored each day.
Dr. Catherine Smallwood, WHO Incident Manager in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, gave the latest figures. Nearly half of all recorded cases have resulted in death. Contacts of confirmed patients are followed daily over a three-week period so that new infections can be detected early. Smallwood said 2,600 people in the country had survived the disease, describing this as a positive development.
WHO called for increased funding, medical and logistical support, stronger local response capabilities and faster detection. It said these needs are greatest in areas affected by conflict, displacement and food insecurity. The organisation also urged countries in the region to step up surveillance and health screening at border crossings. However, it advised against any restrictions on travel to, or trade with, affected countries.
Bundibugyo outbreak spreads to eight provinces
The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola, and has been under way since May 2026. Congolese authorities declared it on May 15 after infections emerged in the country’s northeast. It is the largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Earlier this month, the national count stood at 8,376 confirmed cases and 4,042 deaths.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, eight provinces had been affected as of October 21. They are Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uélé, Bas-Uélé, Sud-Ubangi and Nord-Ubangi. Ituri has remained a major centre of transmission throughout the outbreak. The European agency reported 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths, based on data up to October 20.
Cases linked to the outbreak reach Kenya
Kenya has reported 9 confirmed cases, including 1 death, all linked to its first case, according to the European agency. The most recent Kenyan case, a close contact of the first patient, was reported on October 20. Nigeria reported 1 case on the same day in a person with a travel history to Uganda, and 44 contacts have been identified. Uganda recorded infections linked to the Congolese outbreak before ending its own outbreak.
Health authorities launched an Ebola vaccination campaign in Kisangani in August, prioritising frontline workers and contacts of confirmed cases. The Ervebo vaccine is being used under a compassionate-use framework while researchers gather data on its effectiveness against the circulating strain. Four cases have been imported to or evacuated to Europe since May. WHO said faster detection and stronger local capacity remain essential to bringing the outbreak under control.
