The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ministry of Health announced on November 1, 2026 that the Ebola death toll had reached 5,340 among 10,351 confirmed cases, bringing the case fatality rate to 51.6 percent, according to a statement posted on the ministry’s website. The figures, updated on 29 October 2026, indicate that the surge in deaths continues amid the ongoing outbreak.
The Ministry of Health’s announcement came from the official website of the DRC government. It listed the total number of confirmed cases and deaths and highlighted the high fatality rate, which it described as one of the key metrics tracking the crisis. The ministry also said that the increase was part of a broader trend of rising mortality during this stage of the outbreak, though it did not provide additional details on the factors driving the surge.
In Kinshasa, the capital, officials reiterated that the situation remains critical and urged communities to continue adhering to prevention guidelines. They underscored that the current numbers represent a significant escalation from earlier stages of the outbreak, with the death toll now exceeding the half‑million mark.
Earlier reports from the ministry in October 2026 had already pointed to a rising number of confirmed Ebola cases in the eastern provinces, a trend that the latest update confirms by adding several hundred new deaths. The ministry’s published data are the most recent publicly available figures on the epidemic’s trajectory.
International health agencies have previously monitored the outbreak closely, especially given the high mortality rate seen in current cases. While the ministry’s announcement did not include any new policy measures, it reminded authorities of the ongoing need for robust contact tracing, treatment, and community engagement to curb further spread.
At present, the Ministry of Health remains the only source providing real‑time updates on case counts, and its statements will guide both national response strategies and international assistance efforts.
While the Ministry’s announcement does not detail measures beyond the confirmed case‑fatality statistics, its continuity with earlier warnings about a rising death toll suggests that the health crisis in the DRC remains severe and demands sustained public health efforts.
