Congo's Ebola outbreak reaches eighth province as death toll tops 4,500

At the Kitatumba Ebola treatment centre in Butembo, North Kivu province, a nurse was photographed disinfecting himself after treating an Ebola patient on September 23, 2026.

Now the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has reached North Ubangi, an eighth province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Two cases have been confirmed there, including one death.

The outbreak was announced in mid-May. Ituri province then emerged as its epicentre, before cases spread through South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uele, Bas-Uele, South Ubangi and North Kivu.

In North Ubangi, a health official reported a recent series of suspect deaths in a mining area in Wapinda health zone. The zone lies close to the border with Bas-Uele.

The confirmed cases in North Ubangi make it the eighth affected province, alongside North Kivu, Ituri, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, Sud-Kivu, Bas-Uele and South Ubangi.

North Ubangi also borders the Central African Republic.

Congo's public health institute confirmed the spread to North Ubangi on Sunday. Two health officials also confirmed the spread on Thursday.

The outbreak has already crossed Congo's borders. Cases have been recorded in Uganda, which had been declared Ebola-free in August, while seven infections have been confirmed in Kenya this month.

More than 9,000 cases have been confirmed and the death toll has topped 4,500. The outbreak is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record and the worst Ebola epidemic in Congo's history.