The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declared a new Ebola outbreak in the eastern province of North Kivu, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As of May 18, 2026, there have been 5 confirmed cases and 3 deaths. The outbreak is centered in the city of Beni, an area already grappling with a severe hunger crisis and mass displacement due to ongoing conflict.
The WHO has deployed a team of experts to support the DRC's Ministry of Health in response efforts, including contact tracing, vaccination, and community engagement. The outbreak is the 15th in the country's history, and comes as the region faces one of its worst food insecurity crises in years, with over 27 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Health officials are concerned that the combination of malnutrition and displacement could exacerbate the spread of the virus. The Ebola virus, which causes severe hemorrhagic fever, has a high fatality rate, but early detection and vaccination have proven effective in previous outbreaks. The WHO has emphasized the need for rapid international support to contain the outbreak and address the underlying humanitarian crisis.
