Congo Ebola outbreak surpasses 2,000 deaths

scienceAug 11, 202615168

Congo reported at least 2,011 deaths among 4,381 confirmed cases in its Ebola outbreak, the fastest growing on record, the government said. A total of 704 patients are currently in admission and isolation, and the outbreak was first declared on May 15. It took about nine weeks to reach 1,000 deaths and roughly three weeks to record the additional 1,000, underscoring how rapidly the crisis has accelerated. The outbreak is already the second-largest in history for Ebola, behind the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic, and it is the 17th Ebola outbreak the country has faced. The current epidemic is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments; clinical trials for candidate vaccines and therapies have begun in Ituri province. Health responders say the outbreak is outpacing the expanding response across five provinces as rebel conflict, poor roads and strikes over unpaid workers hinder efforts, and most new cases are occurring outside monitored contacts. The World Health Organization said the outbreak likely began in February and that some early cases were misdiagnosed as malaria and typhoid, with WHO regional director Mohamed Yakub Janabi saying officials are "chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us."

The Associated Press

@apnews.com

Congo says at least 2,000 people have died in its Ebola outbreak, and data shows a total of 4,381 confirmed cases.

423h ago

Helen Branswell 🇨🇦

@helenbranswell.bsky.social

There've been big advances in #Ebola since the devastating West African outbreak in 2014-16. But unfortunately, most of those advances were aimed at tackling the Zaire species of Ebola. There are others, as this Bundibugyo outbreak in DRC painfully reminds us. www.statnews.com/2026/08/10/e...

4619h ago

David Blanchflower BSc

@davidbflower.bsky.social

We are chasing Ebola virus - it is ahead of us, WHO warns. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

1414h ago

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

@ecdc.europa.eu

Update of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in DRC & Uganda - 10 Aug. --- DRC: On 8 Aug, DRC reported a total of 4209 confirmed cases & 1916 deaths. 89 new cases & 21 deaths reported since the last update (7 Aug). --- EU/EEA: 1 confirmed case reported in France on 24 June. #PublicHealth #Ebola #IDsky

515h ago

Emerging Crises

@emergingcrises.bsky.social

The DRC Ebola outbreak is now the second worst in history, largely driven by a massive testing gap. With some results taking over 72 hours, "80 percent of people who test positive for Ebola haven’t had contact with any other confirmed patients." www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/...

521h ago

Meta Resister

@metaresister.bsky.social

WHO urges Ervebo vaccine trial in DR Congo Ebola outbreak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WQ9a4pbo04

1019h ago

Gumdrop Menace

@gumdropmenace.bsky.social

"The Democratic Republic of Congo has now recorded more than 4,000 confirmed Ebola cases - the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded..." youtu.be/fiugyTo9cV0?...

8Yesterday

Health Policy Watch - Global health news reporting

@healthpolicywatch.bsky.social

Over 4,000 #Ebola Bundibugyo cases and 1,800 deaths have been recorded in DRC. 🦠Health experts now plan to investigate whether the virus may be mutating to become more infectious. ✍️ @kerrycullinan.bsky.social 📖 ⬇️ & 🔁🙏

7Yesterday

Quoting this

Jan The "en attendant + 4°"2

1800 morts rien que pour le Congo Et surtout aucune perspective de sortie d'épidémie

KB DogsRule2

WE ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THIS under this administration. If Ebola reaches here, the COVID pandemic will look like a walk in the park. We need a vaccine developed ASAP.

Congresswoman Grace Meng

@meng.house.gov

The Ebola outbreak abroad continues to worsen—and women and girls are bearing the brunt. The maternal mortality rate in the outbreak’s epicenter has doubled. (1/2)

5Yesterday

Unofficial CTV News Mirror

@ctvnews-mirror.bsky.social

WHO says Congo's fast-moving Ebola outbreak started months before it was declared

519h ago

Faytuks Network

@faytuksnetwork.bsky.social

The World Health Organization said that eastern Congo's Ebola outbreak began in February, months before its official May declaration. Initial cases were mistaken for malaria and typhoid, delaying detection of the Bundibugyo virus that has now… https://x.com/FaytuksNetwork/status/2086817603016651171

720h ago

Gail Waldby ❌👑

@gailwaldby.bsky.social

The #Ebola outbreak in Congo may appear to worsen in the coming weeks as health officials dramatically expand their search for infections that have gone undetected. ⁨ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/10/world/science-health/ebola-congo-hidden-infections

421h ago

Greg Folkers

@gregfolkers.bsky.social

Bloomberg: Ebola Case Count Set to Increase as Congo Officials Expand Hunt for Hidden Infections by Jason Gale @jasongale.bsky.social @bloomberg.com bloom.bg/4gm0LAK

422h ago

Timothy McBride

@mcbridetd.bsky.social

WHO chief says Ebola outbreak is outpacing response as aid workers strike over pay abcnews.com/Health/wireS...

3Yesterday

Flingjore

@flingjore.com

Ebola fears ease for Kinshasa residents as 200 quarantined river boat passengers test negative for the virus. This means the bustling capital avoids a devastating outbreak for now, allowing daily trade and travel to resume safely while the broader epidemic rages on elsewhere.

313h ago

1 source

apnews.comCongo says 2,000 people have died in its Ebola outbreak, the fastest growing on record

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Congo Ebola outbreak surpasses 2,000 deaths

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