The Congo Ebola outbreak reached an eighth province on Sunday, October 18, when the country's public health institute confirmed two cases — including one death — in North Ubangi, a remote province bordering the Central African Republic. The National Institute for Biomedical Research announced the cases, confirming reporting by Reuters from three days earlier. It is a worrying new turn for an epidemic officials already call the worst Ebola epidemic in Congo's history — one that has now spilled into Uganda and Kenya.
Related: Kenya's Ebola cases rose to seven last week — read our earlier report here. That tally has since moved again; see below.
Congo Ebola Outbreak Reaches Eighth Province: What We Know
The National Institute for Biomedical Research said on Sunday that two Ebola cases, one of them fatal, had been confirmed in North Ubangi. That makes it the eighth province hit by the outbreak, alongside North Kivu, Ituri, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, Sud-Kivu, Bas-Uele and South Ubangi, according to Reuters. Both patients were men in their 20s, found in the Wapinda health zone near the Bas-Uele border, the Associated Press said.
Reuters had flagged the cases first. On Thursday, October 15, the agency reported two confirmed cases in the province, citing two health officials — but there was no official word from Congolese authorities then. Sunday's statement closes that gap.
Where Is North Ubangi — and Why the CAR Border Matters
North Ubangi — also styled Nord-Ubangi — sits in Congo's far north, wedged between Sud-Ubangi and Bas-Uele, the last two provinces the virus reached. It shares a border with the Central African Republic, which has so far recorded no confirmed cases, according to the AP.
The geography is the worry. Recurring armed violence across the CAR border has forced thousands to flee into Congolese border communities, and access in the region is difficult because of poor roads and limited communication networks, the AP reported. An outbreak that keeps finding new ground is far harder to contain than one burning in a single place.
Congo Ebola Death Toll October 2026: 9,415 Cases, 4,536 Deaths
Congo's latest official situation report is stark. In the 24 hours to October 16, the country recorded 67 new confirmed cases and 26 new deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 9,415 cases and 4,536 deaths since the outbreak began, Reuters reported.
Ituri province in the east remains the epicentre, accounting for 44 of the 67 new cases — and, according to government data cited by the AP, almost three-quarters of all confirmed cases. Sixty-six health zones have been affected since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. It is the deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congo's history and the second-largest ever recorded worldwide, after the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic.
Why It Matters: The Virus Is Already Crossing Borders
This is no longer just a Congolese crisis. Cases have been recorded in Uganda — which has since declared itself free of the disease, the AP reported — and in Kenya, where the picture is still shifting.
Kenya had seven confirmed Ebola infections when the Reuters wire went out. Now there are eight: the Times of India reported on Monday that a 49-year-old patient attendant tested positive on Sunday while in quarantine, after being identified as a contact of Kenya's first case. Kenya's director-general for health, Patrick Amoth, told Citizen TV: "Today, 38 people were tested, and one tested positive for Ebola." The man, who is not a healthcare worker, had developed fever, headache and muscle pain.
According to Reuters, he had cleaned utensils and linens for Kenya's first Ebola patient — a 40-year-old Kenyan who travelled from DR Congo through Uganda, arrived in Kenya on October 3 and died at a Nairobi hospital on October 5. Three close relatives and three health workers have also tested positive, the Times of India reported; around 130 contacts were identified and 128 remain in quarantine.
Kenya has tightened border screening, set up a dedicated gate at Nairobi's main airport for flights from 10 high-risk countries and launched an emergency hotline, while Tanzania has introduced 21-day monitoring for travellers from high-risk countries.
The Bundibugyo Strain: No Approved Vaccine or Treatment
This outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus — and that complicates everything. The AP reports there is no approved vaccine or treatment for it. Reuters imagery nevertheless shows frontline health workers being vaccinated in North Kivu as research continues, and Voice of Nigeria reported the WHO expects a vaccine clinical trial in the DRC by the end of October.
For now, containment rests on the basics: isolation, contact tracing, safe burials and community engagement. The AP describes the spread as being fuelled by mass population movements, rebel violence, mistrust and poor working conditions for frontline workers — a brutal mix that has made this, in the AP's words, the world's fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.
What Happens Next: Travel Curbs and Community Outreach
Congo's state news agency ACP reported on Sunday that authorities in North Kivu — where the WHO says substantial transmission continues — will tighten restrictions starting Monday: a one-week ban on people entering the province from Ituri, limits of two people per motorcycle and four per car, and a suspension of large public gatherings including mass sports events, nightclubs and political demonstrations.
On the ground, teams are adapting. Serge Ngalebato, an epidemiologist and field coordinator for the Wamba health zone in Haut-Uele, told the AP his teams introduced home visits because people feared coming to hospital — and most cases in his zone cluster around mining areas, where the population moves constantly.
"Ebola is a community disease. If the community does not cooperate, it will be very difficult," Ngalebato said.
That echoes the WHO's top Africa official. "We see pockets of Ebola generally going down, but unfortunately geographically it's spreading out," Regional Director Mohamed Yakub Janabi told the AP in Beni on Friday, adding that reluctance to seek medical care is one of the biggest challenges, with some deaths still occurring in communities outside health facilities.
If contact tracing holds in a province with poor roads, displaced populations and an armed conflict next door, the response still has a chance. If it doesn't, the eighth province won't be the last.
Key Takeaways
- Congo's public health institute confirmed on Sunday, October 18, that Ebola has reached North Ubangi — the eighth province affected.
- Two cases, including one death, were confirmed in the Wapinda health zone near the Central African Republic border.
- The official toll stands at 9,415 cases and 4,536 deaths, with 67 new cases and 26 new deaths in the 24 hours to October 16; Ituri remains the epicentre.
- The Bundibugyo strain behind the outbreak has no approved vaccine or treatment, the AP reports.
- The virus has crossed borders: Uganda declared itself free in August, while Kenya confirmed an eighth case on Sunday and tightened airport screening.
- North Kivu introduces travel curbs from Monday, including a one-week ban on arrivals from Ituri and limits on public gatherings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many provinces in Congo have Ebola cases?
Eight. North Ubangi became the eighth province affected when the National Institute for Biomedical Research confirmed two cases there on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The others are North Kivu, Ituri, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, Sud-Kivu, Bas-Uele and South Ubangi, according to Reuters.
What is Congo's Ebola death toll in October 2026?
Congo's latest situation report puts the cumulative toll at 9,415 confirmed cases and 4,536 deaths, with 67 new cases and 26 new deaths in the 24 hours to October 16, Reuters reported. The AP cites government data of at least 9,400 cases and over 4,500 deaths.
What is the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola?
Bundibugyo is a rare Ebola virus species behind the current DR Congo outbreak, declared in mid-May 2026. According to the AP, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain, which is one reason containment has been so difficult.
Has the Congo Ebola outbreak spread to other countries?
Yes. Cases were recorded in Uganda, which has since declared itself free of the disease, the AP reported. Kenya has confirmed eight infections this month, including a patient attendant who tested positive on Sunday while in quarantine, per the Times of India.
Why is the Congo Ebola outbreak still spreading?
The AP reports the spread is fuelled by mass population movements, rebel violence, mistrust and poor working conditions for frontline workers. WHO Africa chief Mohamed Yakub Janabi says reluctance to seek medical care is a major challenge, with some deaths occurring in communities rather than health centres.
What is being done to contain Ebola in Congo?
From Monday, North Kivu introduces a one-week ban on people entering from Ituri, limits of two riders per motorcycle and four per car, and suspended public gatherings. Health teams are doing home visits where residents fear hospitals, and 66 health zones are under surveillance.
More from GlobalDeskNews: Kenya Ebola Cases Rise to Seven as Health Workers Infected · Mauritius Lifts Curfew After Worst Unrest Since 1999
Sources
- Reuters via GMA News Online: DR Congo confirms Ebola outbreak has spread to eighth province (Oct 18, 2026)
- Reuters via Deccan Herald: Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province in DR Congo, death toll tops 4,500 (Oct 18, 2026)
- AP via Manila Times: Congo's fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province (Oct 19, 2026)
- Times of India: Kenya reports 8th Ebola case as Congo outbreak expands across borders (Oct 19, 2026)