WHO says Ebola has reached two new health zones in DR Congo.
Why it matters: The outbreak now covers more territory, including border areas with the Central African Republic and South Sudan. That raises the risk of cross-border spread and makes contact tracing, treatment and humanitarian access harder.
- WHO said the outbreak expanded to Bulu in South Ubangi and Dungu in Haut-Uele.
- WHO says the outbreak now reaches a seventh province.
- Al Jazeera, citing WHO, reported 63 affected health zones across seven provinces as of Sept. 25, 2026.
- WHO and Africa CDC say conflict, displacement and access problems are complicating the response.
The World Health Organization says DR Congo's Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus disease has spread to two additional health zones - Bulu in South Ubangi and Dungu in Haut-Uele - both in border areas. WHO's outbreak notice says the geographic spread now reaches a seventh province.
WHO's Africa region bulletin said the first confirmed case in Bulu Health Zone marked expansion into a seventh province. The regional bulletin frames the outbreak as an ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease response in the DRC.
In comments carried by Al Jazeera, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "It's very difficult to see Ebola in isolation because even our response to Ebola is affected by the conflict, because there is displacement and there is an access problem to some areas." Al Jazeera's report also said WHO had identified 63 affected health zones across seven provinces.
Africa CDC said it is coordinating surveillance, laboratory capacity, risk communication, cross-border coordination, infection prevention and control, and emergency response operations. Its director-general, Jean Kaseya, said: "When the outbreak is at community level, we cannot talk about control." Africa CDC's outbreak update says contact tracing is lagging far behind estimated needs.
By the numbers
- 2 - New health zones affected: Bulu and Dungu.
- 7 - Provinces now touched by the outbreak, according to WHO.
- 63 - Health zones across seven provinces, as reported by Al Jazeera citing WHO.
Yes, but: WHO and Africa CDC say the response is being hampered by conflict, displacement and difficult access to affected communities, which can slow containment even as the outbreak footprint expands.
What's next: WHO and Africa CDC are continuing surveillance, contact tracing and cross-border coordination as the outbreak evolves.