Health

Ebola in DR Congo reaches an eighth province as WHO tracks a new case in Nigeria

By /

The Ebola in DR Congo outbreak has reached an eighth province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN News reported on 22 October 2026, as World Health Organization (WHO) investigators worked to find out how a patient in Nigeria became infected.

Ebola in DR Congo: Red Cross workers prepare to deal with a suspected Ebola case in eastern DR Congo
Red Cross workers prepare to deal with a suspected Ebola case in eastern DR Congo Photo: UNOCHA/Priscilla Lecomte via UN News (editorial use with credit).

How far Ebola in DR Congo has spread

The latest province to confirm infections is Nord Ubangi, which borders the Central African Republic, where armed violence continues to uproot thousands of people and makes it harder to halt transmission. The original DRC outbreak was declared in mid-May and has led to more than 4,600 deaths and 9,552 confirmed infections, according to UN News. Around six in ten of these deaths have occurred outside health centres, which shows how difficult it remains to stop community transmission. WHO also pointed to reports last week of 15 deaths per day in the rural commune of Mangina in Beni territory, North Kivu province, where a WHO emergency team arrived two weeks ago after negotiating access. “There was a lot of community preoccupation and community resistance in the beginning to receive help, it’s a very highly insecure area,” said Dr Anne Ancia, WHO Country Representative in DRC.

Key Facts

  • Provinces affected in DRC: 8 (latest: Nord Ubangi)
  • DRC toll since mid-May: 4,600+ deaths, 9,552 confirmed infections
  • Countries with Bundibugyo Ebola in 2026: DRC, France, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria
  • Nigeria: 40+ close contacts identified
  • Kenya: 9 cases, 1 death, 135 contacts traced

“Ebola does not wait. It follows movement, exploits gaps and tests the strength of our health systems.”

— Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa

Bundibugyo virus case in Nigeria

Authorities in Abuja confirmed Nigeria’s first case in a person arriving from Uganda, which borders the worst-hit provinces in DRC. Nigeria is the fifth country this year, after DRC, France, Uganda and Kenya, to confirm Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus. “The source of exposure is still not known,” said Dr Patrick Otim of WHO’s Emergency Response programme, adding that the patient’s travel history from Uganda to Nigeria was being pieced together. According to Nigerian authorities, she developed symptoms on 7 October and was hospitalised 48 hours later. Genetic sequencing is under way to confirm it is the same virus circulating in DRC, and more than 40 close contacts have been identified, WHO said. Kenya has reported nine cases, including one death, and traced 135 contacts of the deceased patient, said Dr Patrick Amoth, Director General of Kenya’s Ministry of Health. Uganda recorded two deaths and 20 confirmed cases before declaring the threat over at the end of August.

Ervebo vaccine research and the regional risk

Inside DRC, researchers are studying whether the Ervebo vaccine, designed for Ebola caused by Zaire virus, gives any protection against the Bundibugyo species. “We still do not have preliminary data yet,” Dr Otim said, adding that results would be shared as soon as they are available. Infection prevention and control measures have been put in place in Abuja to limit spread inside health facilities, he said. Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said the virus is “no longer confined to one place, it is a regional concern”. He said responders must reach people earlier, bring safe care closer and build trust, because success is possible where surveillance is strong and contacts are found and followed.

Why It Matters: There is no vaccine yet proven against the Bundibugyo strain, so cases appearing in new countries make early detection and contact tracing the main tools to stop spread.

Also on TrendDesh: Ebola in Nigeria: WHO steps in after first Bundibugyo case confirmed in Abuja · Kenya Ebola: second case confirmed in relative of first patient, WHO says no community spread

Source: UN News, 22 Oct 2026 · WHO: Ebola disease fact sheet · UN News: WHO supports Nigeria, 21 Oct

Share

Today’s News 23 Oct 2026 · 21 stories

  1. Ethiopia conflict: WHO scales up health response in Afar, Amhara and Tigray1Ethiopia conflict: WHO scales up health response in Afar, Amhara and TigrayOct 23, 2026
  2. Rajasthan tourist police reunite lost child at Amer and return a purse at Jantar Mantar2Rajasthan tourist police reunite lost child at Amer and return a purse at Jantar MantarOct 23, 2026
  3. ESA Council names Andrzej Banasiak and Nicolaus Hanowski as new directors3ESA Council names Andrzej Banasiak and Nicolaus Hanowski as new directorsOct 23, 2026
  4. PM e-Bus Sewa in Rajasthan: 250 of 675 electric buses delivered to eight cities4PM e-Bus Sewa in Rajasthan: 250 of 675 electric buses delivered to eight citiesOct 23, 2026
  5. International Space Station crew bioprints blood vessels and preps for 29 October spacewalk5International Space Station crew bioprints blood vessels and preps for 29 October spacewalkOct 23, 2026
  6. India Energy Week 2027 in Kolkata to showcase compressed biogas, GOBARdhan workshop told6India Energy Week 2027 in Kolkata to showcase compressed biogas, GOBARdhan workshop toldOct 23, 2026
  7. Maternal health in Rajasthan: zero maternal deaths at 19 medical colleges and 58 district hospitals in October7Maternal health in Rajasthan: zero maternal deaths at 19 medical colleges and 58 district hospitals in OctoberOct 23, 2026
  8. BIS Care app: BIS seizes 300 batteries with fake registration numbers in Chennai8BIS Care app: BIS seizes 300 batteries with fake registration numbers in ChennaiOct 23, 2026
  9. PFBR Kalpakkam: BHAVINI marks Formation Day after first criticality of 500 MW reactor9PFBR Kalpakkam: BHAVINI marks Formation Day after first criticality of 500 MW reactorOct 23, 2026
  10. First Training Squadron of Indian Navy arrives in Maldives on long range deployment10First Training Squadron of Indian Navy arrives in Maldives on long range deploymentOct 23, 2026
  11. National Livestock Mission: Central team praises Rajasthan mobile vet units and animal insurance11National Livestock Mission: Central team praises Rajasthan mobile vet units and animal insuranceOct 23, 2026
  12. re-KYC campaign: RBI launches nationwide saturation drive until 31 December from Deekshabhoomi12re-KYC campaign: RBI launches nationwide saturation drive until 31 December from DeekshabhoomiOct 23, 2026
  13. Commemorative 200 rupee coin released by President Murmu for Mata Sahib Hasi Devi’s 200th birth anniversary13Commemorative 200 rupee coin released by President Murmu for Mata Sahib Hasi Devi’s 200th birth anniversaryOct 23, 2026
  14. New Guinea fires: NASA image shows smoke as El Nino drought fuels record emissions14New Guinea fires: NASA image shows smoke as El Nino drought fuels record emissionsOct 23, 2026
  15. Nuakhai in Raipur: President Murmu tells youth to dream big and respect women15Nuakhai in Raipur: President Murmu tells youth to dream big and respect womenOct 23, 2026
  16. Psyche spacecraft goes pedal to the metal toward its asteroid after a Mars flyby16Psyche spacecraft goes pedal to the metal toward its asteroid after a Mars flybyOct 23, 2026
  17. James Webb Space Telescope image shows stars brewing in the N159 nebula17James Webb Space Telescope image shows stars brewing in the N159 nebulaOct 23, 2026
  18. X-59: NASA test pilot Mike Lippert flies the quiet supersonic jet for the first time18X-59: NASA test pilot Mike Lippert flies the quiet supersonic jet for the first timeOct 23, 2026
  19. Roman Space Telescope enters final commissioning phase as NASA says observatory is fully functional19Roman Space Telescope enters final commissioning phase as NASA says observatory is fully functionalOct 23, 2026
  20. Hubble gravitational lens image shows a galaxy magnified twice as NASA prepares Roman20Hubble gravitational lens image shows a galaxy magnified twice as NASA prepares RomanOct 23, 2026
  21. Ebola in DR Congo reaches an eighth province as WHO tracks a new case in Nigeria21Ebola in DR Congo reaches an eighth province as WHO tracks a new case in NigeriaOct 23, 2026 · Reading now

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top