Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo Surpasses 1,000 Deaths, Fastest in History

The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has now resulted in over 1,000 confirmed deaths, 67 days after its declaration on May 15, 2026. This makes it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in terms of fatalities, surpassing the 2014 West Africa epidemic. As of July 21, 2026, there were 2,536 confirmed cases and 1,033 confirmed deaths in the DRC, with the virus active in multiple provinces. Countermeasures, including a new vaccine trial launched by the University of Oxford, are underway, but challenges like mistrust and violence continue to hinder response efforts.