WHO now says the DRC Ebola outbreak could become the largest in history. If you're joining us mid-story, here's the short version: the DRC Bundibugyo outbreak was declared May 15, but WHO sequencing indicates transmission began in February. Early cases were reportedly misattributed to malaria and typhoid. Before this update, reporting had already put deaths above 2,000 and government data at 4,381 confirmed cases. Insecurity and strained services in eastern DRC are complicating detection, contact tracing, and treatment. This is Ebola Watch. Today, WHO has put the worst-case comparison on the table. We're looking at what's missing from the response as the outbreak keeps moving. We'll keep tracking this story — DRC Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. Follow the show so the next update finds you. Stephanie Soucheray, writing in CIDRAP:
Today during general remarks, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, of the World Health Organization (WHO) said the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to become the world’s largest, outpacing the West African outbreak of 2014 to 2016, which saw more than 11,000 people die.
Update on the DRC Bundibugyo outbreak: WHO now warns it could surpass West Africa's 2014–16 epidemic in scale. That benchmark was more than 11,000 deaths. We're at 2,061 now, and Tedros says the outbreak is on track to break that record. The current WHO count is 4,449 confirmed cases across five provinces and 53 health zones. The burden is heavily concentrated: Ituri accounts for 90% of cases and 80% of deaths. That's where response teams need to focus most urgently. And WHO says most deaths are still happening in the community. People are dying outside care, and there are transmission chains the system hasn't found yet. Contact follow-up is around 80%, while WHO says it needs to reach 95% to interrupt spread. Then there's the vaccine decision. WHO is planning a phase 3 Ervebo trial, even though Ervebo targets Zaire Ebola and this is Bundibugyo. Animal studies suggest cross-protection, but Tedros was explicit: human efficacy is still unknown. A trial is the responsible way to answer that—if people can be reached in time. Here's European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control:
On 11 August 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) published a situation update reporting a total of 4 449 confirmed cases, including 2 061 related deaths (from data up until 10 August). A total of 716 patients are hospitalised in isolation. This represents an increase of 68 new confirmed cases and 50 deaths since the previous report on 10 August
ECDC's August 12 update puts contact follow-up at 82.7% across five provinces—more precise than WHO's “around 80%.” That still leaves more than 17% of identified contacts outside follow-up. At this scale, that's a serious operational gap. And ECDC says 68 confirmed cases and 50 deaths were added in one reporting window. You can't call that a 73% death rate for that day—reporting lags can badly distort it—but it does suggest some very sick patients are reaching the ledger late. The running figures are 4,449 confirmed cases, 2,061 deaths, and 716 people hospitalized in isolation. ECDC also cautions that DRC's counts are under continuous review and harmonisation, so these are the best current totals—not a final accounting. One important contrast: Uganda remains at 20 confirmed cases, with no new case since June 21, and declared its outbreak over on July 28. Congo has 53 affected health zones out of 140. Uganda's outbreak is over; Congo's is still expanding. Have feedback, a story idea, or a correction? Email us at ebolawatch at lantern podcasts dot com. Your notes help us make Ebola Watch more useful.
We'll be watching for the next weekday update to ECDC's Ebola surveillance page—for case counts, deaths, and contact follow-up.
Links to every story are in the show notes, so take a look at any that caught your attention. That's Ebola Watch for today. This is a Lantern Podcast.