Africa — 2026-08-26

DRC Ebola Outbreak Hits 5515 Cases at Record Pace With Pope Leo Urging Global Action

BLUFRising fatality rates despite improved contact tracing indicate the DRC outbreak will likely exceed 6,000 cases within 30 days, outpacing vaccine delivery and containment capacity in active conflict zones.

Congolese government figures released Sunday put the DRC's Ebola outbreak at 5,515 confirmed cases and 2,642 deaths, with 51 new cases detected in Ituri and North Kivu provinces 12. The case fatality rate has climbed to nearly 48 percent, up from about 20 percent in early June, while contact tracing has improved from 30 percent to more than 85 percent over the same period 12. The WHO reports about 160 health workers infected and roughly 45 dead, and has pledged 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, with 16,250 doses arriving in the DRC on Friday 12. During the Angelus address in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV called for an international response that also engages local communities in prevention efforts 134.

Analysis
The record-pace fatality climb from roughly 20 percent to nearly 48 percent, alongside a jump in contact tracing coverage, signals a health system still losing ground on treatment even as detection improves. Case counts will likely surpass 6,000 within the next 30 days given the current trajectory and the outbreak's designation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Moderate confidence reflects converging figures from government reporting and WHO data, though both institutions have incentives to understate strain on response capacity. Vaccine deliveries and Pope Leo's appeal signal mounting international pressure, but armed conflict and displacement in Ituri and North Kivu will continue to blunt containment gains.

4 sources

Ebola cases in DRC hit 5,515 as Pope Leo urges global action to save lives - Al Jazeera
Ebola Cases In DRC Hit Over 5000 As Pope Leo Demands Global Action - Sahara Reporters
Pope appeals for international aid for Ebola victims in DRC - Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV calls for international response to deadly Ebola outbreak in DR Congo - Africanews