Ebola Death Toll in DR Congo Rises to 101
Heba Habib
The Democratic Republic of Congo reports 101 confirmed deaths in its 17th Ebola outbreak, with armed groups hampering response efforts in Ituri province. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, has spread silently for weeks, complicating containment.
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday (June 8, 2026) released its latest Ebola situation report, showing confirmed deaths have reached 101. In the past 24 hours, 35 new infections were recorded, including 10 deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 550.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, was announced on May 15, but health officials said the disease had been silently spreading for weeks before that, leaving health authorities reactive and struggling to contain the situation.
The outbreak is concentrated in three provinces long plagued by armed conflict: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. New cases were reported in 17 health zones of Ituri, 7 in North Kivu, and 1 in South Kivu. The presence of armed groups in Djugu, Irumu, and Mambasa (in Ituri) continues to “limit humanitarian access in many affected or at-risk health zones.”
According to researchers, more than 120 armed groups operate in these three provinces, with conflict rooted in ethnic tensions, political rivalry, corruption, and the fight for control over natural resources.
Reuters reported that public mistrust and resistance have also hampered Ebola response efforts in the DRC. On Sunday, a burial team was attacked at Nyamurongo cemetery in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, leaving two people seriously injured and two vehicles damaged.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency over the outbreak in mid-May. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed particular concern about the region as a mining area with “high levels of population movement,” increasing the risk of the disease spreading to other areas or countries.
The Bundibugyo virus strain, first identified in western Uganda less than 20 years ago, is responsible for the third recorded outbreak of its kind. Unlike the Zaire strain, which caused the 2014 West African pandemic that killed more than 11,300 people, no vaccine or treatment has been approved for the Bundibugyo strain. Two potential vaccine candidates are not yet ready for human trials.
Neighboring Uganda has reported 19 cases and 2 deaths, all but 5 of which were Congolese nationals who crossed the border. One confirmed case was a Congolese national who traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before entering Uganda. The UAE has banned entry for travelers from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. Mauritius is also said to have blocked entry from these three countries. Uganda has closed its border with the DRC.
During a visit to Uganda on Monday, Mr. Tedros urged authorities to reconsider the border closure, arguing that broad travel restrictions are ineffective. “I hope they will review it,” he said.
