Congo's Ebola outbreak becomes third deadliest as cases surpass 1,000 and health workers face violence

One month after the outbreak was declared on May 15, confirmed cases have reached 782 with 181 deaths, according to government data from June 14, though the true toll is likely higher. Medical charity MSF said testing remains a significant weakness and that data from laboratories, hospitals, and surveillance teams is difficult to harmonise, creating distortions.

No one knows the true scale or exactly where the disease is spreading in DRC.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya warned the outbreak could become the worst ever, surpassing the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic that killed over 11,000.

If we don't stop the outbreak very soon it will be worse than what we had in West Africa and eastern DRC.

The WHO said 75 health workers have been infected and 17 have died, while attacks on treatment centres and deep mistrust hamper contact tracing. In the Kpangba displacement camp, health workers were forced away by locals denying Ebola deaths, leaving authorities unable to trace contacts among 30,000 residents.

Vaccine candidates from Oxford University and Moderna against the Bundibugyo strain could enter Phase 1 trials as early as July, and the U.S. has provided doses of an experimental antibody drug from Mapp Biopharmaceutical for clinical trials in the outbreak region.

1. May 15, 2026Outbreak officially declared by Congolese officials; virus had likely been circulating for months.
2. May 31, 2026First Ebola deaths recorded in Kpangba displacement camp, later made public in a UNHCR report.
3. Jun 14, 2026Confirmed cases reach 782 with 181 deaths; two new health zones affected (Nia-Nia and Mabalako).
4. Jun 19, 2026WHO reports 75 health workers infected and 17 dead since the outbreak began.
5. Jun 23, 2026Cases surpass 1,000 with 267 deaths; U.S. provides experimental antibody drug for trials; vaccine trials could start in July.