The World Health Organization has confirmed that the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a public health emergency of international concern. The decision follows the second meeting of an expert committee, held in August 2026. Around 5,000 cases had been reported by mid-August, but modelling suggests the true number of infections could be three to four times higher. The committee warned that the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, is growing rapidly and expanding into new areas.
Experts are worried because the hardest-hit regions overlap with zones of armed conflict and displacement, limiting access to patients and weakening surveillance. Health services are under strain, raising the risk of preventable deaths from malaria and other diseases. There is encouraging news: Uganda has recorded no new cases since 16 July, showing that rapid control is possible. The committee urged intensified action and stressed that communities must remain at the centre of the response.