Ebola Surge in Eastern DRC Threatens Hundreds of Lives as Funding Nears Exhaustion

Since the outbreak was declared on 15 May 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 5,290 confirmed Ebola cases across six eastern provinces—Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut‑Uélé, Tshopo and Bas‑Uélé. Of those, 2,516 have died, giving a case‑fatality ratio of about 48 percent, while 1,152 patients have recovered and nearly 840 remain in isolation or hospital care. Health officials note that half of all deaths occurred in the most recent 20 days, and the virus now covers a territory larger than the whole of France, indicating exponential growth. Contact tracing efforts currently reach about 83 percent of identified exposures, but gaps remain in remote areas.

The epidemic has taken a heavy toll on health personnel. Of the 160 frontline workers infected, 43 have died, highlighting the extreme occupational risk. In addition to the virus, staff have faced violence: ambulances have been set alight, health centres stoned, and youths have attacked responders. Financial constraints worsen the situation; the banking system in the affected provinces functions only minimally, delaying salary payments and increasing worker dissatisfaction. Aid cuts over the past two years have reduced humanitarian capacity by more than 30 percent. The United States has contributed $80 million to expand bed capacity and improve safe burial practices.

UN officials warn that the financial envelope for the Ebola response is set to be exhausted within weeks. Delays in securing new contributions would likely increase transmission and raise overall costs, according to senior Ebola coordinator Julien Harneis. The response is being coordinated by the World Health Organization together with the World Food Programme, UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration and partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières. UN officials appealed for immediate support as the response faced growing needs and diminishing resources.