NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has appealed to governments and donors to ramp up their backing for the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The outbreak, which has expanded across six provinces, continues to place significant pressure on local health systems. Fletcher emphasized that humanitarian teams require more rapid funding and consistent access to communities affected. The appeal is issued amid ongoing challenges, including thousands of infections, widespread displacement, and persistent insecurity in multiple regions.
By September 1, the World Health Organization reported that the outbreak had surpassed 6,000 confirmed cases, with nearly 3,000 fatalities. A total of sixty health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Bas-Uélé, and Tshopo have documented infections. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus characterized this as the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, noting it is spreading at a pace faster than previous occurrences. Since the outbreak’s inception, Ituri has remained the primary transmission hub.
The first signs of the outbreak appeared in May 2026, with laboratory tests identifying the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus. WHO designated the situation as a public health emergency of international concern. By August 26, officials had confirmed 5,794 cases and 2,786 deaths, with 1,293 recoveries also recorded in that update. Response efforts continue with testing suspected cases, contact tracing, patient treatment, and community outreach within the affected districts.
Conflict and displacement aggravate challenges for responders
The Ebola crisis unfolds against a broader humanitarian emergency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fletcher highlighted that nearly 11 million people are in need of aid due to ongoing conflict, displacement, hunger, and malnutrition. Violence particularly in eastern regions has hindered access for medical teams and aid workers. In response, the United Nations activated an emergency mechanism on June 9, establishing humanitarian hubs in Bunia and Beni to better support efforts closer to the communities impacted by the outbreak.
Health workers face some of the highest risks, with Fletcher noting that over 40 healthcare personnel have lost their lives to Ebola during this outbreak. Earlier WHO data indicated 151 confirmed infections among health and care workers by July 30, including 44 deaths. To mitigate risks, health agencies have intensified infection control protocols, clinical training, and protective measures. WHO has also identified ongoing transmission chains that remain untraced, along with deaths occurring outside formal treatment centers.
Funding demands grow in tandem with vaccine development efforts
The updated 2026 humanitarian response plan for the Democratic Republic of the Congo now requires $2.1 billion, with $300 million allocated specifically for Ebola-related activities. Fletcher called for larger, more flexible contributions to address both the outbreak and wider humanitarian needs. WHO separately stated that the government-led six-month Ebola plan needs $1.3 billion, covering surveillance, treatment facilities, laboratories, community engagement, and other public health initiatives across the affected provinces.
On September 1, WHO also revised its vaccine guidance as research continues into protection against the Bundibugyo strain. The organization noted that current evidence does not confirm whether the licensed Ervebo vaccine offers significant protection against this Ebola species in humans. It recommended that vaccination be conducted only within research protocols while ongoing clinical trials are underway. WHO and Africa CDC are supporting Congolese authorities as teams work to identify cases, provide treatment, and curb transmission across the six impacted provinces.