At least 930 people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak, the country’s health ministry said.
The deaths were recorded out of the 2,344 cases confirmed as of Saturday night.
Thirty-seven new deaths were recorded in the previous 24 hours in one of the highest single-day totals.
The Ebola outbreak that was declared in eastern DR Congo on May 15 is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.
The Bundibugyo virus responsible for the outbreak is less common than others that cause Ebola disease, and there is no approved vaccine or treatment.
Two months into the #Ebola outbreak in the #DRC, intense transmission in Ituri province is our primary concern.
More than 2,000 cases and almost 800 deaths have been reported. Most new cases are being detected outside known contact lists, and two-thirds of deaths are occurring… pic.twitter.com/NNzstyWqSW
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 17, 2026
Ebola is highly contagious and can be transmitted to people from wild animals. It spreads in the human population through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen, and with contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing. The disease is rare but severe and often fatal.
The surge in deaths comes as safety fears have restricted the response in the worst-affected province of Ituri.
A total of five provinces have been affected, all in the eastern region where rebel violence is rampant.
At least 12 attacks — mostly fuelled by scepticism and rumours — have been recorded against health facilities and teams since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, authorities said on Saturday. Many health workers meanwhile have walked off their jobs as they protest lack of payment.
Health workers involved in DR Congo’s Ebola response have gone on strike as they protest over payment issues in Bunia (AP) (Constant Same Bagalwa/AP Photo/Constant Same Bagalwa)
At least 36 health workers infected with the virus have died.
The World Health Organisation last week expressed concerns that 80% of new Ebola cases were emerging from unknown chains of transmission, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track despite an expanding response.
DR Congo’s health ministry said in its latest update that 724 patients are currently in isolation and in hospitals, and that it is intensifying response efforts in affected health zones.
“Patient care and support capacities are consolidating, with 22 new recoveries recorded in 24 hours,” the ministry said.
(The Irsih News)
