Ebola outbreak reaches two more zones in DR Congo

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread into two additional health zones, bringing the number of affected areas to 60.

Figures reported on Friday, August 28, 2026, put the outbreak at 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths. The expansion into new zones marks a further deterioration in an emergency already described as the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record in the country.

The new geographic spread matters because each affected zone adds pressure on surveillance, contact tracing, isolation, vaccination and clinical care. It also increases the risk that communities with limited health infrastructure will face fresh transmission.

The latest development follows international efforts to expand frontline vaccination and mobilize additional funding for the response. Case and death totals may change as health authorities investigate suspected infections and reconcile reports from affected areas.

Because Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, safe care, rapid detection and community cooperation remain central to controlling transmission.