Congo Ebola Outbreak Passes 10,000 Cases

GENEVA, Switzerland — The Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has passed 10,000 confirmed cases, with 5,198 deaths reported as of November 3, 2026, the World Health Organization said on November 6, 2026.

Read the WHO Disease Outbreak News: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON625

As of November 3, a total of 10,668 confirmed cases, including 5,198 deaths, have been reported across 67 health zones in eight provinces, the agency said. The crude case fatality ratio is 48.7 percent, with 2,881 recoveries reported.

Active transmission is ongoing in 51 health zones, the agency said. An additional 964 confirmed cases, including 511 confirmed deaths, have been reported since the previous Disease Outbreak News was published on October 23, 2026.

The outbreak is the largest Ebola disease outbreak ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, regardless of virus species, the agency said. The outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, and has been determined a public health emergency of international concern.

The Numbers, The Spread, The Toll

Ituri remains the most affected province, with 7,485 cumulative confirmed cases and 3,532 deaths, the agency said. Nord Kivu follows with 2,593 confirmed cases and 1,422 deaths, and continues to record the highest provincial case fatality ratio, at 54.8 percent.

Cases have been reported in five countries since the outbreak was declared: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, the agency said. The outbreaks in France and Uganda have been controlled since August, while Kenya and Nigeria continue with ongoing response.

In Kenya, the cumulative total remains at nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, the agency said. Five patients have recovered and were discharged on November 3, while two cases are still receiving treatment, and there have been no new confirmed cases since October 19, 2026.

In Nigeria, one laboratory-confirmed imported case was reported on October 20, 2026, in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, the agency said. The case was medically evacuated to Switzerland on October 26, 2026, and remains in isolation and receiving medical care in Geneva.

On November 5, 2026, the United Kingdom reported the medical evacuation of one confirmed case, a health and care worker, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the agency said. The case is now receiving medical care in London.

The Response, The Trial, The Next Steps

There are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease, the agency said. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, and infected individuals are not infectious until symptom onset.

On October 23, the Tumaini platform vaccine trial was launched, with first participants enrolled in Bunia, the agency said. Tumaini is a pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trial of vaccine candidates against Bundibugyo virus.

Two new vaccine candidates have been recommended for addition to the trial for further clinical evaluation: ChAdOx1, developed by the University of Oxford with the Serum Institute of India, and Moderna's mRNA-1469, the agency said. The candidates will enter the trial following national approvals.

The World Health Organization advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, states experiencing or responding to the public health event, the agency said. The agency said the risk in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was assessed as very high, the risk for countries sharing land borders with the country was assessed as high, and the risk at the global level was assessed as low, and that the rapid risk assessment is currently being revised.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and partners, are continuing disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, contact tracing, and safe burials, the agency said. A substantial scale-up is ongoing across all response pillars to get ahead of the outbreak.

Kind Joe will update this story as the World Health Organization releases new figures.

Sources

World Health Organization, "Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Nigeria," Disease Outbreak News, November 6, 2026: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON625