It is a very tragic milestone because it is just not a number,
said Dr. Patrick Otim, a programme area manager with the World Health Organization, as total confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo surpassed 11,000 according to government data reported on November 11, 2026.
Epidemic Scale and Geographic Spread
The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 11,042 cases of Ebola and 5,387 deaths, according to government data released on November 11, 2026. The World Health Organization confirmed the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus and represents the largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded in the country irrespective of species. The outbreak began in Ituri Province on May 15, 2026.
This ongoing public health emergency marks the second-largest and deadliest outbreak on record globally, trailing only the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people across multiple nations. In the DRC specifically, active transmission spans eight of the country’s 26 provinces, reaching 67 health zones. Ituri remains the most extensively affected province, followed by Nord Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, Bas-Uélé, Nord-Ubangi, Sud Kivu, and Sud-Ubangi.
Violence in eastern #DRC is costing lives and undermining the #Ebola response. -In Beni, @WHO is deeply concerned about the attack on an Ebola Treatment Centre on 6 November. Police prevented an attempt to set the facility on fire. -In Mabalako health zone, reported attacks by an… pic.twitter.com/ybKvZmYp11
— Post by @DrTedros on X
Eight of the country’s 26 provinces have reported infections across 67 health zones. Ituri remains the most affected province with 7,485 cumulative confirmed cases and 3,532 deaths, while North Kivu follows with 2,593 confirmed cases and 1,422 deaths. North Kivu recorded the highest provincial case fatality rate at 54.8 percent.
Cases Reported Across Five Countries Since May
Five countries have reported cases since the outbreak began in May. Uganda recorded 20 infections and two deaths before ending its outbreak in August. France confirmed a single imported case in a traveler that was controlled in July.
Kenya confirmed nine cases and two deaths, while Nigeria confirmed one case involving a traveler who received treatment before being evacuated to Switzerland. Regional health authorities including Amref Health Africa have emphasized cross-border coordination rather than alarm, noting that specific clusters, such as those in Kenya, showed no evidence of community spread.
International response measures expanded as the United States implemented new travel requirements. Starting November 3, 2026, every passenger on an international flight to the United States must attest to not having been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the previous 21 days. The International Organization for Migration reported detecting 71 confirmed Ebola cases along transit routes in the DRC, with 95 percent of those cases picked up on informal routes bypassing official checkpoints.
Authorities Struggle to Track Transmission and Treat Patients
Health authorities face severe obstacles in tracking transmission chains and treating patients. Data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that about 80 percent of new cases originate outside monitored contact lists.
One-third of recorded deaths occur outside treatment centers before patients receive medical care or testing. Rose Tchwenko, Country Director for the DRC at Prosper Global, noted that the continuous transmission across Ituri and North Kivu stretches everyone involved in the response, including local communities.
Healthcare workers have absorbed heavy losses during the outbreak. By mid-August, 155 healthcare workers had been infected and 45 had died, resulting in a healthcare worker mortality rate of 29 percent.
Workers at an Ebola treatment center in Tchomia, Ituri, went on strike demanding four months of unpaid wages, while security incidents including attacks on treatment facilities have further disrupted operations. Resource constraints continue to hinder essential prevention measures such as decentralized laboratories staffed by protected personnel, active contact tracing, and comprehensive community engagement.
Vaccine Clinical Trials and Countermeasures
Clinical trials for experimental vaccines advanced as the World Health Organization recommended adding two Bundibugyo-specific candidate vaccines to ongoing studies in the DRC. The candidates include ChAdOx1 BDBV, developed by the University of Oxford in partnership with the Serum Institute of India, and Moderna’s mRNA-1469 vaccine, which entered a Phase 1 clinical trial in August 2026 supported by $50 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
DR Congo: 71 Ebola cases have been detected along transit routes, @UNMigration reports.https://t.co/7nopK9jkXu
— Post by @UN_News_Centre on X
An ongoing trial in Bunia also evaluates Ervebo, a vaccine approved against the Zaire Ebola virus, alongside the Tumaini vaccine candidate which entered a Phase 2 efficacy trial in late October.
Diagnostic innovations are also underway to support field operations. Alessandro Marcello, head of molecular virology at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Trieste, Italy, has developed a rapid, simple, and affordable test for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus utilizing RT-LAMP technology to assist early detection where sophisticated laboratory equipment is unavailable.
Consult Medical Professionals and Health Authorities for Guidance
Readers seeking guidance on health risks, travel advisories, or exposure concerns related to the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak should consult qualified medical professionals, national public health authorities, or official agencies such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Earlier coverage: DRC Ebola Outbreak Tops 5,000 Deaths in Eight Provinces