A motorcycle traveled about 600 kilometers across the Democratic Republic of Congo carrying the body of a 24-year-old pregnant woman. She had died in the Nia Nia health area of Ituri province. Her body was going to Kisangani, a large city in Tshopo province with about 1.5 million people. Later, medical tests confirmed the cause of her death, which showed a serious increase in the problem. The virus had reached a big city.
Health officials officially announced the crisis on May 15, 2026. By the end of June, the disease had infected 1,406 people and caused 438 deaths. This is the 17th time the Democratic Republic of Congo has dealt with this disease. The last outbreak ended in December 2025. However, the current outbreak is one of the largest ever recorded.
The specific type of Ebola is the Bundibugyo strain. Unlike other types, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for this one. Doctors are testing new medicines, including remdesivir and MBP134. Currently, about 31 percent of infected people die, but 208 people have recovered.
Ituri province in the northeast is the main center of the outbreak, with over 80 percent of the deaths. The disease has spread to 24 of the province's 36 health areas, causing 1,283 infections and 366 deaths there. The area has armed conflict, mining, and many displaced people, which helps the disease spread easily.
The virus has also spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, and Haut-Uele. It has even crossed into Uganda, causing 20 infections and two deaths. Europe has also seen a few cases. A doctor returning from humanitarian work was infected in France, and an American doctor was treated in Germany.
Medical teams face many challenges. Hospitals in Ituri lack basic supplies like disinfectants and protective gear. Also, local people are often distrustful of health workers. In Nia Nia, protesters burned an Ebola treatment center, killing one police officer and injuring two others. During the confusion, seven patients escaped, and people took away two bodies.
Moving bodies is dangerous because they can still spread the disease. Traditional funeral customs are a major reason for new infections.
The World Health Organization recognized the danger early on. Global leaders are now working on a response. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi said that "epidemics do not recognize borders." South African President Cyril Ramaphosa asked other countries not to ban travel from the DRC. He also expressed hope for a vaccine by the end of the year.
Until a medical solution is found, local medical staff are working in a dangerous area with a skeptical public and a deadly virus. As one hospital official said, "It takes a lot of courage to care for the sick."