DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Surges to Second-Largest in History

The Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has escalated to become the second-largest in history. As of July 31, 2026, 3,532 confirmed cases and 1,556 deaths have been reported. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo variant, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. Containment efforts are significantly hindered by security instability, insufficient support, and slow response measures, with estimates suggesting the actual number of infections could be up to four times higher than official figures.