Congo Ebola outbreak response gaps

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, declared in mid-May, has spread from three health zones to 60, with 6,250 cases and 3,039 deaths as of early September 2026. The International — Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention stated the outbreak has likely not yet peaked. A report from the U.S. United States — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified five key gaps in the response: limited community-based surveillance, inadequate contact tracing (only 19% of expected contacts traced), insufficient treatment and isolation capacity, limited laboratory testing, and gaps in safe burials. The outbreak is concentrated in Democratic Republic of the Congo — Ituri Province, which is also affected by rebel conflict, complicating response efforts. The World Health Organization noted that treatment centers in Ituri are saturated and Democratic Republic of the Congo — North Kivu lacks sufficient referral options. Health workers are exhausted, and burial teams have been attacked. Authorities are shifting to a village-centered approach to build trust and improve collaboration.