Ebola outbreak in Congo kills nearly 1,000 as attacks on health workers escalate

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed nearly 1,000 people, making it the fastest-growing on record. Caused by the Bundibugyo strain with no approved vaccine, the response is severely hampered by dozens of violent attacks on health workers. Fueled by misinformation and community mistrust, this violence has forced aid groups to suspend operations, exacerbating a crisis already strained by significant funding shortages.

Ebola outbreak scale

• ▪This is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, reaching nearly 1,000 deaths in under 10 weeks
• ▪As of July 20, 2026, 2,473 cases have been recorded in the DRC outbreak that began on May 15, 2026
• ▪Approximately 80% of new Ebola infections are linked to unknown chains of transmission, indicating the outbreak is spreading faster than officials can track it
• ▪The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed at least 999 people, with an additional two deaths in Uganda
• ▪The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments

Attacks on health workers

• ▪Some response specialists have been held captive, and workers performing safe burials are frequently targeted
• ▪At least 36 health workers in the DRC have been infected with Ebola and died since the outbreak began in May 2026
• ▪Attacks have been carried out by angry mobs storming treatment centers, throwing stones, and targeting response teams in the field
• ▪Dozens of attacks on health facilities and response teams have occurred since the Ebola outbreak began in the DRC

Community mistrust drivers

• ▪Suspicion arises from the discrepancy between the weak local health system and the sudden deployment of vast resources for Ebola
• ▪A lack of initial communication about supportive care benefits led communities to question why patients were isolated for a disease with no cure
• ▪Misinformation is fueling attacks, including false claims that nurses are killing patients or that Ebola does not exist
• ▪Conflict between Ebola safety protocols and traditional burial rites, such as washing the body, has generated mistrust

Impact on response efforts

• ▪Medical staff have gone on strike to protest lack of payment and difficult working conditions, interrupting care and surveillance
• ▪The number of patients visiting health centers has significantly decreased due to fear and rumors
• ▪Patients have fled treatment centers during attacks while still contagious, returning to their communities and likely spreading the disease
• ▪Attacks have forced humanitarian organizations to suspend operations in some areas of the DRC

Funding shortages

• ▪Diminishing foreign aid budgets from the U.S. and the West have contributed to staff shortages and less comprehensive response operations
• ▪The World Health Organization has received only about 40% of the $115 million it needs to fight the outbreak

Community engagement solutions

• ▪In Kigonze Camp, engaging with community leaders successfully ended attacks on burial teams and allowed them to resume their work