What experts are saying as Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda kills more than 1,000 people

By — Mark Banchereau, Associated Press Mark Banchereau, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-experts-are-saying-as-ebola-outbreak-in-congo-and-uganda-kills-more-than-1000-people Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter What experts are saying as Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda kills more than 1,000 people World Jul 24, 2026 9:19 AM EDT DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has killed more than 1,000 people in eastern Congo as health officials race to contain a virus with no approved vaccine or treatment. An update from Congo's public health institute on Wednesday said there have been 2,536 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,033 deaths, with at least 738 patients in isolation or hospitalized. Grow your mind Subscribe to our Science Newsletter to explore the wide worlds of science, health and technology. The outbreak declared on May 15 is unlike most previous instances of Ebola spreading through communities because the Bundibugyo virus responsible has no approved vaccines or treatments. It is mostly concentrated in remote Ituri province, which accounts for nearly 90% of cases, but there have been others confirmed in five provinces including one of Congo's largest cities, Kisangani, and in neighboring Uganda. Here is what to know about the outbreak: Outbreak is spreading despite signs of slowing While Congolese officials say the sharp rise in cases appears to be slowing, they caution the outbreak has not yet peaked. The latest report by the country's public health institute says transmission remains sustained, with recent fluctuations in cases likely influenced by reporting delays and ongoing data consolidation. Contact tracing continues to lag, with only around 77% of known contacts monitored nationwide, well below the 95% target health officials say is needed to interrupt transmission. Responders are struggling to understand how far the Ebola outbreak has spread and how much worse it might become. READ MORE: Residents in eastern Congo cling to hope as a new Ebola treatment trial begins U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers last month used computer modeling and found that in a worst-case scenario, the current Ebola outbreak could approach the worst in history. The West Africa epidemic in 2014-2016 caused more than 11,000 deaths and took about eight months from the first case to reach 1,000 deaths. The new outbreak's origin is still a medical mystery. The vast majority of cases are emerging from unknown chains of transmission, the World Health Organization said. Risk of the outbreak spreading globally remains low The WHO continues to assess the risk from the outbreak as "very high" inside Congo and "high" in Uganda and neighboring countries, citing cross-border spread, frequent population movement and ongoing transmission in eastern Congo. The agency says the global risk of spread is low, noting Ebola spre