An Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 12 people since April 2026, according to the World Health Organization. As of May 20, 2026, a total of 48 cases have been reported, with health officials struggling to contain the spread in remote areas.
The outbreak is centered in North Kivu province, a region previously affected by Ebola. The WHO has deployed teams to support vaccination efforts and contact tracing, but challenges include insecurity and community mistrust.
Health Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani confirmed that the government is working with international partners to accelerate the response. The current strain is the Zaire ebolavirus, which has a high fatality rate if untreated.
