DR Congo investigates Ebola spread to fourth province after deaths reach 600
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are investigating two suspected Ebola cases in the city of Kisangani after the outbreak death toll reached 600 on July 9, 2026. If confirmed, the infections would make Tshopo the fourth province affected since the outbreak began in May.
Image credit: DFID/Simon Davis
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported 600 Ebola deaths as health authorities investigate two suspected infections in Tshopo Province that, if confirmed, would mark the outbreak’s expansion beyond the three provinces currently reporting confirmed transmission.
The two suspected cases were identified in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province. According to Congolese health authorities, one patient has epidemiological links to the Niania Health Zone in neighboring Ituri Province, while the second has no known epidemiological connection to the existing outbreak outside Kisangani, raising the possibility of an undetected chain of community transmission. Laboratory testing is underway.
The DRC Ministry of Health places the outbreak at 1 759 confirmed and probable cases and 600 deaths, excluding the two suspected Kisangani cases, which remain under laboratory investigation.
The latest European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assessment, published on July 9 and based on data reported through July 6, documents 1 708 confirmed cases and 580 confirmed deaths. They also reported 680 patients hospitalized in isolation, 280 recoveries, and 75.2% of identified contacts under follow-up across Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
Kisangani is located in central DRC, and is one of the country’s largest cities and a major transportation hub connected by road, river, and air to multiple regions.
Public health officials have warned that transmission into densely populated urban centers could complicate surveillance, contact tracing, and containment because of increased population movement.
Authorities have launched epidemiological investigations, contact tracing, and enhanced surveillance while awaiting laboratory confirmation of the two suspected infections.
The development comes days after the World Health Organization (WHO) said the outbreak remains in an “expansion phase,” citing continued transmission and movement of infected individuals between regions as major obstacles to containment.
Despite concerns over possible expansion, Ituri Province continues to bear the overwhelming burden of the epidemic. According to the latest ECDC assessment, Ituri has recorded 1 556 confirmed cases and 491 deaths across 25 of its 36 health zones.
North Kivu has reported 149 cases and 88 deaths, while South Kivu has reported three cases and one death. Overall, 37 of the DRC’s 104 health zones have reported confirmed Ebola infections, with Boga Health Zone becoming the latest affected area on July 6.
If the Kisangani cases are confirmed, Tshopo would become the fourth province affected by the outbreak.
The outbreak, declared on May 15, is caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a relatively uncommon species of Ebola virus first identified during an outbreak in Uganda in 2007. The previous Bundibugyo virus outbreak occurred in the DRC in 2012.
According to the ECDC, significant surveillance and epidemiological gaps remain, making it likely that the outbreak is larger than currently reported.
Unlike the more common Zaire ebolavirus, there are currently no licensed vaccines or specific treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease. Information on transmission chains also remains limited because of insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the affected areas.
WHO declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17. Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security on May 18, and the two organizations launched a joint continental preparedness and response plan on June 5.
This is the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC. WHO considers neighboring countries sharing land borders with the DRC to be at high risk of further spread because of population mobility, trade and travel links, as well as uncertainty surrounding transmission chains.
Uganda has reported 20 confirmed Ebola cases, including two deaths, according to the ECDC. The last confirmed Ugandan case was reported on June 21, with no new infections confirmed since then. Sixteen patients have recovered, while 15 confirmed infections were linked to travel from the DRC, and five resulted from local transmission events.
Imported infections have also been identified outside Africa. In May, a U.S. citizen infected while working in the DRC was medically evacuated to Germany for treatment. France confirmed an imported Ebola case on June 24 involving a humanitarian doctor returning from the outbreak area.
Despite the imported cases, the ECDC continues to assess the risk of Ebola infection for people living in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) as very low.
The agency said exit screening in affected countries helps reduce the likelihood of infected travelers departing while symptomatic, but cannot completely prevent exportation because infected individuals may not yet show symptoms. Based on lessons learned during previous Ebola outbreaks, the ECDC considers entry screening of travelers arriving in Europe unlikely to be effective and instead recommends preparedness, rapid case detection, and public awareness.
References:
1 Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda – ECDC – July 9, 2026
2 Communicable disease threats report, 27 June – 3 July 2026, week 27 – ECDC – July 9, 2026
3 New Congo province has suspected Ebola case as deaths hit 600, report says – Reuters – July 9, 2026
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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