Alarming numbers released! The death toll surpasses 2,000 - Milliyet
Milliyet AppUygulamayı AçWebWeb'de Devam Et ENAlarming numbers released! The death toll surpasses 2,000NewsAlarming Numbers Released! The Death Toll Surpasses 2,000Alarming numbers released! The death toll surpasses 2,00029.08.2026 - 21:00 | Last Updated: 29.08.2026 - 21:00
The World Health Organization has released a new report on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The report notes that the outbreak has spread to 60 health zones in the DRC and states that six provinces have been affected by the Ebola outbreak
The report states, “As of August 26, a total of 5,794 confirmed cases, including 2,786 deaths, have been reported. This corresponds to a case fatality rate of approximately 48.1 percent. These figures indicate a significant increase in the scale and geographic spread of the outbreak over the past three months," the report stated.
The report noted that the 48 percent case fatality rate underscores the severity of the disease and highlights ongoing challenges related to timely case detection, access to and quality of clinical care, and the effective containment of viral transmission.
The report noted that delays in case detection increase the likelihood of continued transmission within communities and healthcare facilities.
The report stated, “In line with the recommendations of the August 18 WHO Emergency Committee meeting, the outbreak continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern.”
The Ebola virus, which causes a type of hemorrhagic fever, first emerged in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan, and Yambuku, DRC.
The outbreak in the DRC was named after the Ebola River because it began in a village near the river.
The Ebola virus began spreading in West Africa in December 2013. During the 2014–2017 outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, approximately 30,000 people were infected with the virus, and more than 11,000 people lost their lives.
An outbreak was declared in the country on May 15 after 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths were reported in the Ituri province in eastern DRC.
According to health officials, there is no approved treatment or vaccine against the outbreak caused by the “Bundibugyo” Ebola variant, which began in May.
