Ebola Death Toll in DR Congo Climbs to 600 as Outbreak Spreads to New Province

KINSHASA, DR Congo — The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached a grim milestone, with the death toll rising to 600, as health authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO) warn that the virus continues to spread into previously unaffected areas.

The latest figures show that more than 1,759 confirmed Ebola infections have now been recorded since the outbreak was declared in May 2026, making it one of the deadliest Ebola emergencies the country has faced in recent years.

Congolese health officials are investigating suspected Ebola cases in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, marking the first time the virus has been detected in the region during the current outbreak.

Authorities confirmed that one suspected patient recently travelled from Ituri Province, where the outbreak first emerged. However, another suspected case has no known epidemiological link to existing transmission chains, raising fears of undetected community spread.

The appearance of suspected infections in a new province has intensified surveillance efforts as health teams race to trace contacts and contain further transmission.

The World Health Organisation says the outbreak remains in an expansion phase, driven largely by population movement between provinces, delayed diagnosis and continued transmission within communities.

Health officials say treatment centres are under immense pressure, while insecurity in eastern Congo continues to complicate response efforts.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a relatively rare species for which no licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment currently exists, although promising experimental therapies are undergoing clinical trials.

The response has also been hampered by operational difficulties.

Some frontline healthcare workers recently threatened industrial action over delayed salary payments and shortages of protective equipment, warning that the crisis could worsen if funding challenges persist.

Aid agencies have also reported attacks on medical teams and widespread misinformation in some affected communities, making disease control even more difficult.

Despite the worsening outbreak, researchers have launched clinical trials testing new experimental Ebola treatments in eastern Congo.

Scientists hope the studies will improve survival rates against the Bundibugyo virus, which has historically received far less research attention than the Zaire strain responsible for previous major outbreaks.

The WHO says strengthening surveillance, rapid testing, isolation of confirmed cases and community engagement remain critical to stopping the spread.

The DRC has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks over the past decade, but the current epidemic presents fresh challenges because of its spread into new areas, ongoing insecurity, humanitarian crises and limited healthcare resources.

Public health experts warn that without increased international support and rapid containment measures, the outbreak could expand further beyond its current hotspots.