Ebola cases in Congo top 2,000 as health workers strike over unpaid wages

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached a significant threshold, with confirmed cases surpassing 2,000 as of Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Government data indicates that 2,011 people have contracted the virus since the start of the outbreak on May 15, 2026. Among these cases, 754 deaths have been recorded. Authorities have characterized this as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.

The medical response is currently being disrupted by labor unrest. On Wednesday, health workers at Bunia General Hospital—the region's largest medical center—launched a strike to protest the lack of payment for their services. Staff members and other front-line workers barricaded the hospital entrance, asserting that they have received no compensation for their work under difficult conditions since the beginning of the crisis. This action follows similar labor disputes in the region; on Monday, dozens of health-care workers, including epidemiologists and grave diggers at the Rwampara General Hospital, walked off their jobs over unpaid wages and bonuses. While staff in Rwampara agreed to return to work on Tuesday, they did so only after securing an agreement that the government would issue payments within 72 hours. Some health workers have told The Associated Press they have not received any payment since they started work at the onset of the outbreak.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 100 health-care workers have been infected since the outbreak began. The strain responsible for this crisis is the rare Bundibugyo virus, which presents unique challenges for containment because, unlike the more common Zaire virus, there are no approved vaccines or treatments available. Enrollment for a highly anticipated study of two potential antiviral treatments recently started in the Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak.

According to Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the WHO health emergencies chief, many of the newly reported fatalities involve individuals who died within their communities without ever reaching a health facility and without receiving care. Data from Congo's Ministry of Health indicates that 753 patients remain in isolation or in hospitals, while 366 individuals have recovered. Officials report that at least 80 per cent of new cases are emerging from unknown chains of transmission. Contact tracing remains a challenge, with coverage of those exposed at 67 per cent.

Tracking the spread of the virus is complicated by several factors, including the absence of an identified patient zero, persistent armed conflict in the eastern part of the country, and the movement of populations related to mining operations. Large-scale displacements have made it difficult for health teams to trace thousands of individuals who may have been exposed. The response is further hampered by a funding gap, attacks on health centers, and mistrust among local communities.

While the outbreak remains centered in Ituri, authorities are tracking the virus across five provinces. The Congolese Information Ministry said it was encouraged that no new cases have been reported in South Kivu province for 47 days. However, the situation remains challenging; the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday that the official death toll might be two to four times higher than the officially recorded numbers.