GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday, May 22, 2026, that it has raised the risk assessment for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the highest level. This decision comes as the number of confirmed cases continues to rise.
According to the WHO, there are now 82 confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease in the DRC, with 7 confirmed deaths. The outbreak is concentrated in the northwestern province of Γquateur, with cases reported in multiple health zones.
The WHO's risk assessment upgrade to "very high" at the national level reflects the growing complexity of the outbreak, including challenges in contact tracing and community engagement. The global risk remains low, but the organization is coordinating closely with the DRC Ministry of Health and partners to contain the spread.
Efforts include vaccination campaigns using the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, which has proven effective in previous outbreaks. Health workers are also focusing on infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities.
