Ebola cases in DRC surpass 11,000 while Kenya begins 42-day countdown
Is it spreading beyond DR Congo?
Spread confirmed
As of 11 November 2026, Kenyan health authorities confirmed that the virus spread to Kenya, where all seven recorded patients have recovered and the country has discharged its final patient, initiating a 42-day countdown to Ebola-free status.
Stated that North Kivu province has become the main source of new Ebola notifications, while Ituri province accounts for 70 percent of cumulative cases.
Kenyan Health Authorities / Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale
Confirmed all seven Ebola patients in Kenya have recovered and the final patient has been discharged, starting the 42-day countdown to Ebola-free status.
As of 11 November 2026, total recorded Ebola virus disease cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have surpassed 11,000, reaching 11,042 cases and 5,387 deaths, with authorities announcing 52 new infections. In North Kivu, health officials reported that at least 50 students across 44 schools have tested positive, resulting in 31 student deaths. Meanwhile, response operations in Ituri and North Kivu face severe disruptions due to armed violence, road deterioration, and a strike by response drivers in Djugu territory [e8ec3c8d56f9118e, 6b3397141ef8919a, d1eab70ed477195e, 4d45e80b202f4652, 9ed0064fd7b50e8e, 21710b2f03f2bdd4].
The World Health Organization estimated that more than 10,000 contacts are lost to follow-up in the DRC, while UN officials warned that ongoing insecurity compromises containment efforts in Ituri province, which accounts for roughly 70 percent of cumulative cases. To prevent further transmission, airport closures in Bunia have been extended through February 2027, and MSF has called for broader emergency access to the Ervebo vaccine as clinical treatment trials get underway in the outbreak epicenter [365fc977b4945985, e20d63a67919204a, 99d043e43a0b0e22, 019655ea104dcc0f, 1c59b5c1b4827ee7, fafe806eb2e2d04a].
In Kenya, Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that all seven registered Ebola cases in the country have fully recovered. Following the discharge of the country's final patient from the hospital, Kenya officially initiated the required 42-day countdown to be declared free of the outbreak [68da5eb7ba92882e, 39d18c5c3628c7ae, 9661546bf9004adb].
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Timeline
Local authorities reopen two health facilities in Lubero territory, North Kivu, after a one-month closure triggered by Ebola cases.
Thirteen recovered Ebola patients, including five health workers, are discharged from the Beni treatment center; clinical treatment trials begin in the DRC epicenter.
Health officials report 50 students across 44 schools tested positive for Ebola in North Kivu, resulting in 31 student deaths; Bunia airport closure is extended to February 2027.
Original title: Kenya begins Ebola-free countdown as DR Congo tops 11,000 cases
CIDRAP reported that Kenya has started its countdown to be declared Ebola-free, while cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have passed 11,000.
Original title: Une cinquantaine d’élèves touchés par Ebola dans 44 écoles du Nord-Kivu
At least 50 students across 44 schools in North Kivu province have tested positive for Ebola, according to statistics presented at a press briefing in Beni. Officials stated that 31 of these students have died.
Original title: Ebola en Ituri : renforcement des capacités de plus de 60 leaders communautaires à Rwampara
More than 60 community leaders in the Rwampara health zone participated in a training session on risk communication and community engagement on November 10, Actualite.cd reported.
Original title: Kenya Ebola: Last patient discharged as CS Duale cautions citizens in DR Congo
Kenyan authorities reported that the country's last Ebola patient has been discharged from the hospital. Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale also cautioned citizens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo regarding the outbreak.
Original title: RD Congo: Abanduye Ebola barenze 11,000 mu gihe abategetsi batangaje abandi bantu 52 banduye
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced 52 new Ebola cases, taking the total number of recorded infections past 11,000, according to the BBC.
Original title: Kenya's Ebola outbreak: Last patient discharged as countdown begins to be being declared free of the virus
BBC reported that Kenya's last Ebola patient has been discharged from care, initiating the countdown toward declaring the outbreak over in the country.
Original title: Duale to Kenyans in DR Congo: Come home, but don’t bring Ebola
Kenyan official Aden Duale advised Kenyans residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to observe health measures to prevent introducing Ebola to Kenya, according to Daily Nation.
Original title: Kenya discharges last Ebola patient, beginning countdown to Ebola-free declaration
Kenyan health officials have discharged the country's final Ebola patient, starting the countdown to declaring the outbreak over, Associated Press reported.
Original title: Ebola: des chauffeurs engagés dans la ripost ont paralysé les activités à l’hôpital de Mongbwalu réclamant la libération d’un de leurs impliqué dans un accident routier
Drivers involved in the Ebola outbreak response paralyzed activities at the Mongbwalu General Reference Hospital in Djugu territory on November 10, 2026, demanding the release of a colleague involved in a road accident, Actualite.cd reported.
Original title: RDC : Présence opérationnelle des partenaires en appui à la réponse Ebola au Nord-Kivu — 31 octobre 2026
UN OCHA published an update on the operational presence of partners supporting the Ebola response in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as of October 31, 2026.
Original title: Kenya discharges last Ebola patient, starts countdown to Ebola-free declaration
Kenyan health authorities discharged the country's last Ebola patient, beginning the countdown toward declaring the end of the outbreak in Kenya, NBC News reported.
Original title: Kenya discharges last Ebola patient, beginning countdown to Ebola-free declaration
Kenya has discharged its final Ebola patient and begun the official countdown toward declaring an end to the outbreak, according to The Washington Post.
Original title: Kenya releases last Ebola patient, starts 42-day countdown to disease-free status
Kenyan health authorities have discharged the country's last Ebola patient after recovery, Reuters reported. The discharge initiates a 42-day countdown required to officially declare Kenya free of the outbreak.
Original title: CS Duale: Kenya now Ebola-free, all seven patients have recovered
Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stated that all seven Ebola patients in Kenya have recovered from the virus. Health officials indicated that there are currently no active Ebola cases in the country.
Original title: Ebola : l’aéroport de N'djili réceptionne 4,5 tonnes de kits de prévention
N'djili International Airport received 4.5 tonnes of hygiene kits donated by the Angels Foundation on November 10 to bolster Ebola prevention efforts, Radio Okapi reported.