UNICEF Democratic Republic of the Congo Humanitarian Situation Report No. 3 – Ebola Outbreak (Bundibugyo Virus), 31 August

EXTRACTO DEL FEED · ATRIBUIDO AL MEDIO

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Source: UN Children's Fund

Please refer to the attached file.

Highlights

UNICEF is scaling up its response from 49 to 60 affected and high-risk health zones, supporting Government-led efforts across community-based surveillance, RCCE, IPC/WASH, nutrition, MHPSS, clinical care, PSEA and continuity of essential services.

In August, 11,723 community actors, including 6,546 community mobilizers (RECOs), were trained and mobilized on RCCE and community-based surveillance. Since the beginning of the response, a total of 24,750 frontline workers, including 12,555 community mobilizers (RECOs), have been mobilized.

UNICEF-supported community surveillance networks generated 29,689 alerts in August, representing an 186 per cent increase from the previous reporting period. Contact tracing coverage reached 88 per cent, with 22,499 of 25,560 contacts followed, strengthening outbreak detection and monitoring efforts.

UNICEF and partners continued to deliver lifesaving support despite operational constraints due to the Ebola outbreak. In August, 126,078 people were reached with essential supplies and emergency health and nutrition assistance through the rapid response mechanism.

Ahead of the new school year, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education agreed on measures to ensure the safe reopening of schools in Ebola-affected provinces. UNICEF provided technical support to establish reopening standards based on risk assessments of the BVD spread in schools and will support 900 schools with WASH and IPC supplies, MHPSS services, and community awareness activities on Ebola prevention.

UNICEF requires US$113.5 million for its revised six-month response plan. As of 31 August 2026, US$34.4 million had been mobilized, leaving a US$79 million funding gap, equivalent to 70 per cent of the requirement.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION UPDATE

Between 1 and 31 August 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported 2,581 confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) cases and 1,420 deaths. As of 31 August, cumulative confirmed cases had reached 6,186, including 3,007 deaths, corresponding to a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 48.6%. The outbreak continued to expand geographically with confirmed cases reported for the first time in Bas-Uélé Province, bringing the number of affected provinces to six (Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé,

Tshopo and Bas-Uélé). During August, an additional 12 health zones reported confirmed cases, increasing the total to 60 affected health zones, representing 39.7 per cent of the country's 151 health zones.

The outbreak is now the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the DRC and the second largest globally. Ituri Province remains the epicentre, accounting for 81.9 per cent of all confirmed cases (5,065) and 2,305 deaths followed by North Kivu (868 cases, 589 deaths) and Haut-Uélé (227 cases, 100 deaths). Transmission also continued in Tshopo, South Kivu and Bas-Uélé. Women and girls represent 53 per cent of reported cases. Children under 17 account for approximately 30.2 per cent of cases and 21.8 per cent of reported deaths, with children under five bearing the greatest burden, representing nearly two-thirds of deaths among children under 18. During August, 42 health workers were affected, underscoring ongoing risks to frontline responders.