By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded more than 9,000 confirmed Ebola infections and 4,381 deaths as its deadliest outbreak on record continues spreading, while health officials warn that fear and misinformation are preventing women and children from receiving essential medical care.
According to Reuters, Congolese health authorities reported 9,066 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, October 13, making the epidemic the largest in the country’s history.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, began in May and has spread across 65 health zones in seven provinces. Health officials believe many infections remain undetected because of inadequate medical resources, population displacement and insecurity in conflict-affected regions.
The epidemic is now the world’s second-largest Ebola outbreak, behind the 2014–2016 West African crisis, which caused more than 28,600 infections and approximately 11,300 deaths.
The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak remains difficult to contain because of continuing transmission, population movements and challenges monitoring people who have been exposed to the virus.
There is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus, making early diagnosis, supportive medical care, isolation and contact tracing particularly important.
However, medical workers say widespread distrust of health facilities is undermining those efforts.
In eastern Congo, particularly Ituri province, pregnant women and parents have increasingly avoided hospitals because they fear contracting Ebola or being deliberately infected by medical personnel.
“They think the medicines we give them contain the Ebola virus,” a nurse in Butembo told Reuters.
Health workers say the misinformation has discouraged routine medical visits, including prenatal examinations, childhood vaccinations and treatment for common illnesses.
The consequences have been severe. Maternal deaths in Ituri increased approximately 70% between May and July, according to health officials, as fewer pregnant women sought professional medical assistance.
Doctors have also reported parents refusing routine procedures for their children. One pediatrician described a mother becoming distressed after learning her son required an X-ray because she feared hospital employees would intentionally expose him to Ebola.
Some families have instead relied on traditional remedies or home treatments, potentially delaying care for serious illnesses.
The disruption has extended to vaccination programs.
According to UNICEF, first-dose measles vaccinations in Mongbwalu declined 69%, while the number of vaccine doses administered in May and June fell by approximately 23,000 compared with April.
Raoul Kamadjeu, a UNICEF public health emergency specialist, warned that the outbreak’s consequences extend beyond Ebola infections themselves.
“We should be concerned not only about the direct impact of Ebola, but also its indirect effects on health, nutrition, child protection, and insecurity. The longer an epidemic persists, the greater the risks,” Kamadjeu said.
The collapse in routine medical visits has raised concerns about additional outbreaks of measles and other preventable diseases, particularly among children already facing food insecurity and limited access to health services.
The epidemic has also crossed international borders.
Kenya confirmed its second Ebola case Wednesday, involving a 39-year-old man who was a close relative of the country’s first patient.
The initial patient had been living in Congo before traveling through Uganda to Nairobi, where he died October 5 after testing positive for Ebola.
Kenyan health officials said the second patient was already under quarantine when symptoms developed.
“Both cases are linked, and there is no evidence of spread in the wider community,” the Kenyan Health Ministry said.
Authorities identified 128 contacts associated with the first patient, successfully tracing 113 and placing 108 under quarantine.
The imported cases have raised concerns about the effectiveness of regional health screening, particularly because early Ebola symptoms can resemble those of other illnesses.
Medical personnel have also warned that fever-reducing medications, including acetaminophen, can temporarily conceal elevated body temperatures and complicate screening efforts.
Meanwhile, Congo faces a separate cholera emergency.
The United Nations reported Wednesday that the country recorded more than 125,000 suspected cholera cases and 3,644 suspected deaths between January 2025 and September 2026.
More than 51,000 suspected cholera cases and 1,487 deaths were reported during the first nine months of 2026 alone, placing additional strain on an already overwhelmed health system.
Humanitarian organizations say ongoing fighting, shortages of medical supplies and damaged infrastructure have made responding to both epidemics increasingly difficult.
Health officials are urging communities to report possible Ebola symptoms, cooperate with contact tracers and continue seeking routine medical care through facilities following appropriate infection-prevention procedures.
With confirmed infections continuing to rise, authorities face the dual challenge of containing a deadly virus while rebuilding public confidence in essential health services.
Without improvements in treatment access, vaccination coverage and community cooperation, officials warn that the epidemic could cause substantial additional deaths, including among patients who never contract Ebola.
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