At least 80 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) new Ebola outbreak in the eastern Ituri province, authorities said on May 16, 2026. Health workers are racing to intensify screening and contact tracing to contain the spread.
The outbreak, declared on April 23, 2026, has seen a total of 120 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The case fatality rate stands at 66.7%, with 80 deaths recorded so far.
Efforts are focused on ring vaccination of contacts and safe burials to prevent further transmission. The DRC's Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and other partners, is coordinating the response.
This is the 15th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. The country has significant experience in managing such outbreaks, but challenges remain due to insecurity and community mistrust in the region.
