GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reports that certain regions within the Democratic Republic of the Congo are making headway against Ebola. In several locations, transmission has decreased, notably in Ituri province, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak. As of September 13, national statistics indicate 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths across seven provinces. The country has also documented 1,726 recoveries, with an overall case fatality ratio of 48.4%.
South Kivu has not reported any new Ebola infections since May, providing further evidence of progress in some affected areas. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that recent data show promising signs after months of widespread transmission. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the outbreak continues to spread and cause fatalities. Health authorities have detected cases in 62 health zones, highlighting significant disparities between provinces. While some regions experience declining transmission, others are seeing sharp increases.
Despite a recent slowdown, Ituri still bears the largest share of cases, with health officials reporting around 300 new infections and 160 deaths there in the latest weekly report. These figures account for nearly half of the country’s total for that period. Conversely, North Kivu has experienced a different trajectory, with weekly cases nearly doubling in just two weeks, rising from approximately 100 to over 200, as response teams monitor the expanding transmission.
North Kivu sees notable weekly case surge
The outbreak was officially declared in mid-May 2026, with laboratory tests confirming Bundibugyo virus disease as the causative agent. Since then, the epidemic has spread across a wide section of the country. Ituri remains the province with the highest overall case count, followed by North Kivu. Haut-Uélé continues to report new cases, and the virus has also reached Sud-Ubangi, increasing the number of affected provinces to seven and broadening the scope of containment efforts.
To enhance outbreak management, clinical research has become an integral component of the response. Trials involving treatments and post-exposure prophylaxis are expanding as more participants join. WHO and national health bodies persist in their efforts through surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, isolation, and clinical care. Monitoring local trends remains crucial because infection rates differ significantly between provinces and health zones. The latest data reveal that national totals alone do not reflect the uneven pattern of transmission across the country.
Seven provinces under active health interventions
Support from the Ministry of Health, WHO, Africa CDC, and other partners continues to bolster frontline teams operating in affected regions. Ongoing insecurity and displacement hinder access in eastern and northern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, complicating surveillance, contact tracing, and provision of medical care. Response teams also engage with mining communities, informal settlements, and displacement sites where health services, sanitation, and transportation infrastructure are often limited, posing additional operational challenges in containing the outbreak.
Current confirmed figures highlight progress in multiple locations, yet the outbreak remains a significant burden nationwide. South Kivu has remained free of new cases for months, and transmission in Ituri has decreased compared to earlier stages. Conversely, North Kivu continues to record rising weekly infections. Consequently, authorities closely monitor each province individually, as transmission patterns shift across the country. Over 3,500 confirmed deaths and numerous cases continue to illustrate the outbreak’s extensive impact.