Ebola Deaths In Congo Top 4,000 In Fastest-Growing Outbreak Yet
Ebola deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo have topped 4,000 in the fastest-growing outbreak on record, health authorities said.[1]
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain and has prompted emergency trials and vaccinations in affected areas.[2] In Ituri province, more than 250 people have enrolled in a trial of Gilead's experimental antiviral pill obeldesivir at Rwampara Hospital.[2] Congo has begun vaccinating health workers with the Ervebo vaccine, which may offer partial protection against Bundibugyo though its effectiveness in this outbreak is still under study.[2]
The obeldesivir study, called EBO-PEP, began in July 2026 as a post-exposure prophylaxis for people who had contact with a confirmed Bundibugyo case within the prior five days.[2] The trial aims to enroll nearly 1,000 adults and children over 12; half of participants receive a placebo and all are monitored daily for 21 days and by phone at 42 days.[2] ALIMA, Congo's National Institute of Biomedical Research and France's ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases are coordinating the study to test whether early antiviral use can prevent disease and break chains of transmission.[2]
Doctors Without Borders said on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, that a staff member infected in the outbreak was being evacuated to a high-isolation unit in the Netherlands.[2] An ALIMA physician had earlier tested positive after returning to France from a hotspot.[2]
Show source details & analysis (2 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- As of early October 2026, more than 250 participants have been enrolled in a clinical trial of Gilead's experimental antiviral pill obeldesivir at Rwampara Hospital in Ituri province in Congo, with a target enrollment of nearly 1,000 adults and children over 12.
- The obeldesivir trial, known as EBO-PEP, began in July 2026 and is designed as post-exposure prophylaxis for people who had contact with a confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola case within the prior five days; half of participants receive a placebo and all are monitored daily for 21 days and by phone at 42 days.
- The study is coordinated by ALIMA, Congo's National Institute of Biomedical Research and France's ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases to test whether early antiviral use can prevent disease and break chains of transmission.
- Congo has started vaccinating health workers with the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, which previously worked against a different Ebola strain and may offer partial protection against the Bundibugyo strain, though its effectiveness in this outbreak is still under study.
- On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, Doctors Without Borders said a staff member infected in the outbreak was being evacuated to a high-isolation unit in the Netherlands, and an ALIMA physician had earlier tested positive after returning to France from a hotspot.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- As of early October 2026, more than 250 participants have been enrolled in a clinical trial of Gilead's experimental antiviral pill obeldesivir at Rwampara Hospital in Ituri province, Congo, with a target enrollment of nearly 1,000 adults and children over 12.
- The obeldesivir trial, known as EBO-PEP, began in July 2026 and is designed as post-exposure prophylaxis for people who had contact with a confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola case within the prior five days; half of participants receive a placebo and all are monitored daily for 21 days and by phone at 42 days.
- ALIMA, Congo's National Institute of Biomedical Research, and France's ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases are coordinating the study, which tests whether early antiviral use can prevent disease and break chains of transmission.
- Congo has started vaccinating health workers with the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, which previously worked against a different Ebola strain and may offer partial protection against Bundibugyo, though its effectiveness for this outbreak is still under study.
- On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, Doctors Without Borders said a staff member infected in the outbreak was being evacuated to a high-isolation unit in the Netherlands, and an ALIMA physician had earlier tested positive after returning to France from a hotspot.