Most Ebola deaths in DRC outbreak happen outside clinics

As of 20 August 2026, the DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak has reached 5,290 confirmed cases and 2,516 deaths. Over the past six weeks, about 60% of weekly deaths happened outside treatment centres, meaning the virus spread undetected until after people died. Health workers are now tracking 84% of exposed contacts, but the remaining gap leaves many people unmonitored.