Ebola outbreak worsens in DR Congo and is now biggest ever, says WHO
Aug 02, 2026
Geneva [Switzerland], August 2: Despite weeks of efforts, the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa is not only not under control - it is worsening in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the risk of it spreading to neighbouring countries rising, the Word Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday.
The outbreak is now the biggest the country has ever experienced, the UN health agency said. "A substantial scaling up of response activities is needed to get ahead of the outbreak, the WHO said in a statement published on Saturday.
Within the past week, more infections (567) and more deaths (296) than in any single previous week were reported, it said. Overall, the WHO puts the number of laboratory-confirmed cases at 3,605, including 1,587 deaths. Some 651 patients have survived the infection. The previous biggest outbreak in the Congo took place between 2018 and 2020, when there were 3,317 confirmed cases. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
