DRC's Ebola Death Toll Passes 500 in Record-Breaking Month

The WHO reported 506 confirmed deaths and 1,561 cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo as of July 4, 2026. The outbreak, declared May 15, involved the Bundibugyo virus strain—one lacking licensed vaccines or approved treatments. The first month was the worst on record for any DRC Ebola epidemic. Case fatality rates exceed 50 percent in affected provinces, signaling late-stage presentation and incomplete detection in conflict zones.