The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ministry of Health announced on Sunday, 1 November 2026 that the death toll from Ebola has climbed to 5,340, after reporting 10,351 confirmed cases in the country as of 29 October. The Ministry stated that the case fatality rate stands at 51.6 percent, indicating a high mortality rate amid the ongoing outbreak.
According to the ministerial statement posted on the ministry’s official website, the number of confirmed cases had reached 10,351 by 29 October. The figure reflects an upward trend in both cases and fatalities, with the Ministry noting the surge continues during the ongoing outbreak.
The announcement came from officials in Kinshasa, the capital city, where health authorities are coordinating responses to the 2022‑2026 Ebola epidemic that has affected several provinces. The updated figures align with the persistent spread of the virus in hard‑to‑reach rural areas.
“We continue to see an increase in the number of people affected by Ebola,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said in a statement. The spokesperson emphasized that the case fatality rate of 51.6 percent demonstrates the disease’s lethality, while also noting that the number of deaths is driven by the growing case count.
Health officials in the DRC have been working to expand diagnostic testing, isolate patients, and monitor contacts. The Ministry has also appealed for additional international support to strengthen community outreach and treatment centers. As the outbreak persists, the Ministry is updating the public on new case numbers and fatalities each day.
In the broader context, the Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 20,000 lives since its inception in 2022, according to tracking data from the World Health Organization. The new figures bring the total to over 45,000 deaths from the disease, with more than 20,000 individuals still alive in both confirmed and suspected cases.
Officials also highlighted the need for continued vigilance in conflict‑affected regions, where movement restrictions and limited medical infrastructure make containment more difficult. They called for coordinated action from national authorities and international partners to ensure timely response to new cases.
Despite the grim statistics, some health workers remain hopeful. “We are following the best practices proven by past outbreaks to reduce fatalities,” one outbreak response coordinator told reporters. The coordinator noted that early detection and isolation, coupled with community education, have historically lowered case fatality rates to below 50 percent in previous epidemics.
The Ministry’s latest update underscores that the epidemic is still evolving, with a steady rise in cases and deaths observed in recent weeks. Public health officials continue to urge communities to seek medical care promptly if they suspect Ebola infection and to maintain social distancing and hand‑washing practices to mitigate transmission.
