DR Congo Ebola death toll reaches 5,372 as regional response continues.
Is it spreading beyond DR Congo?
Spread confirmed
As of 2 November 2026, Kenyan health officials have confirmed nine Ebola cases in Kenya, while health authorities in Nigeria confirmed that two suspected cases in the country tested negative.
Sources: DWReutersAfricanewsKey figures
| Figure | Value | Basis | As of | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Ebola deaths (DR Congo) Data reported by Africanews on 2 November cited 5,372 deaths with a 51.6% case fatality rate as of 30 October. Euronews reported nearly 5,400 deaths on 2 November. | 5,372 | Press reports | Sources: EuronewsAfricanewsEuronews 2 | |
| Total Ebola cases (DR Congo) Reported by BBC based on DRC outbreak data. Over 2,300 new confirmed cases were recorded between 6 and 26 October in eastern DRC. | 10,351 | Press reports | Sources: BBCRadio Okapi | |
| Confirmed Ebola cases (Kenya) Stated by Kenyan health officials and reported by DW. | 9 | Official | Sources: DW |
Who says what
| Who | Says | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenyan Government | Criticized travel restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia as excessive and unjustified, and requested an immediate review while planning to release monitored contacts. | Sources: Daily Nation (Kenya)The Star (Kenya)The Standard (Kenya) | |
| Africa CDC | Expressed support for Kenya's Ebola outbreak response efforts and criticized travel restrictions imposed on Kenya by Saudi Arabia. | Sources: The Standard (Kenya) | |
| Journaliste en Danger | Called for increased protection of journalists and improved access to reliable information in DR Congo during the Ebola epidemic. | Sources: Actualite.cd | |
| Médecins Sans Frontières | Discharged the last confirmed Ebola patients from its facility in Ituri province while noting that the wider DRC outbreak continues. | Sources: AfricanewsEuronews |
Summary
As of 2 November 2026, the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has claimed between 5,300 and nearly 5,400 lives, with total reported cases exceeding 10,000. Recent task force data indicated over 2,300 new confirmed cases notified in eastern DRC across a three-week period in October.
International and regional response efforts continue amid border measures and local operational hurdles. Kenya health officials have confirmed nine Ebola cases, prompting travel restrictions by Saudi Arabia that have drawn criticism from Kenyan ministers and Africa CDC. Meanwhile, media investigations and local reports point to response disruptions in DRC due to unpaid health worker wages, infrastructure attacks, and water shortages at displacement sites.
Timeline
- Kenya health officials confirm a ninth Ebola case, and MSF discharges the last patients from its Ituri treatment center.Sources: DWAfricanews
- DR Congo Ebola deaths surpass 5,000 as total cases pass 10,000; an Ebola treatment center in Bafwasende is partially burned following a mob justice incident.Sources: BBCAfricanewsActualite.cd
- Tests for two suspected Ebola cases in Nigeria come back negative, and Kenya criticizes Saudi Arabia travel restrictions.Sources: ReutersDaily Nation (Kenya)The Standard (Kenya)
- Euronews reports DR Congo Ebola deaths have reached nearly 5,400, while UN OCHA's ReliefWeb publishes a report addressing vaccine access gaps.Sources: EuronewsReliefWeb (UN OCHA)
Still unknown
- Whether Saudi Arabia will revise or lift travel restrictions on Kenya following appeals from Kenyan officials and Africa CDC.
- How quickly vaccine access gaps highlighted in UN OCHA reports will be addressed to supply affected health zones.
- Whether response delays caused by unpaid healthcare staff strikes and security incidents in eastern DRC will be effectively resolved.