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Deaths surge in DRC
The Democratic Republic of the Congo reported that Ebola deaths rose above 1,309 as of Thursday, with confirmed cases including deaths climbing to 2,973, according to government figures cited by Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera said the rise represented an extraordinary increase of more than 40 percent in just five days, while the same update described the virus as Bundibugyo, with no approved vaccines or treatments.
TeleSUR reported that the Government of the DRC confirmed this Saturday, July 25, 2026, 1,309 deaths and 2,973 Ebola infections after the outbreak detected on May 15 in the eastern part of the country.
TeleSUR added that the National Institute of Public Health compiled with data through July 23 placed the epidemic’s lethality rate at 44%, and said 766 patients were admitted under isolation or hospitalization.
TeleSUR also said infections are concentrated in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo, with Ituri identified as the epicenter bordering Uganda and South Sudan.
Voices warn of spread
Al Jazeera quoted public health consultant Abdulsalami Nasidi saying the lack of a proven vaccine meant the virus was “spreading like a wildfire.”
Al Jazeera also cited Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya writing on X that “If we do not stop it today, this will become the worst outbreak the world has ever documented.”
RFI described Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka’s visit to Ituri, where Jean Bosco Kisoke said the brisk trip was not enough and that “death counts continue.”
RFI quoted Marie-Noël Anotane, head of local civil society, calling it “This is a catastrophic situation,” and said the place where patients should be treated with all possible standards is missing in various health zones.
RFI further reported Kisoke’s view that, despite official trips, “in terms of organization, in terms of technical aspects, and in terms of coordination of the response, that poses a problem.”
Funding and response at risk
African Business reported that Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on 25 June that $1.4bn is urgently needed for its plan with the WHO, up from the $518m it earlier said would be required.
“Ebola deaths pass 1,000 in DRC - African Business African BusinessToggle Sidebar Home Sectors Finance Business Politics Technology Resources Energy Arts & Culture Innov Africa Deals Digital Editions African Business African Banker Account Opinion Dossiers Partner Hub Newsletters Events African Banker Lenny Frankline Fri 24th July 2026 Ebola deaths pass 1,000 in DRC Deaths from the latest outbreak of Ebola in the DRC have reached a grim milestone as policymakers call for massive financial assistance”
African Business said only 13% of the $910m in funding pledges had been released as of late June, and it described an AfDB-approved $13m grant with $10m sourced from the Bank Group’s DRC portfolio and channeled through the WHO.
African Business quoted Mohamed Cherif, deputy director general for Central Africa and DRC country manager at the African Development Bank Group, saying the emergency support reflects the AfDB’s commitment to “protecting human lives, strengthening the resilience of health systems and preventing the spread of the epidemic.”
Al Jazeera reported that contact tracing now reaches roughly 80 percent of known contacts, but response teams still cannot reach every village or deploy where they are needed most.
Al Jazeera also said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the true number of cases could be more than double the official count as insecurity continues to restrict access to affected communities.
