New Delhi, July 9, 2026

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to widen, with suspected cases emerging in a new province, highlighting the growing challenge for health authorities. As the virus reaches additional areas, officials are strengthening surveillance and containment efforts to prevent further transmission.

According to the latest government situation report, the outbreak, declared on May 15, has officially infected 1,759 people across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, while the death toll has reached 600. The report also noted two suspected cases in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province. One case has been linked to the Niania health zone in Ituri, where the outbreak first began, while the second case "does not appear to have a geographic link" beyond Kisangani. Both cases are awaiting confirmatory testing before being included in the official figures.

Health response teams have already increased surveillance, contact tracing, and other containment measures in Kisangani as investigations continue. Earlier, Reuters reported that Congolese health authorities were tracing people who may have been exposed to Ebola in the previously unaffected provinces of Tshopo and Haut-Uele.

The latest update recorded 51 new infections and 20 additional deaths within 24 hours. The World Health Organization said this week that the outbreak had not yet stabilised and was still expanding as population movement fuelled transmission. The continued spread of the virus underscores the importance of rapid detection, coordinated response, and sustained public health measures to limit further infections.