The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached 10,141 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths, according to Congolese Ministry of Health figures reported by UN News on 28 October. More than 2,600 people have recovered. The World Health Organization said that “sustained efforts are essential to end the outbreak.”
The DRC’s largest Ebola outbreak
This is the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak and the largest in its history, and the second largest ever recorded after the 2014–2016 epidemic in West Africa. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. The outbreak began in eastern DRC, amid conflict, hunger and displacement, and has spread to eight provinces, including hard-to-reach areas.
WHO noted that “progress is being made,” citing expanded testing and treatment capacity, but called for “continued scale-up of key control measures, greater access to affected areas,” and community outreach that builds trust. Over the weekend, a nurse was killed while responding to an Ebola alert in Tshopo province.
Can an existing vaccine help?
The TUMAINI trials launched in Bunia, Ituri province, last week. According to UN News, they will initially test whether the licensed Ebola vaccine Ervebo, developed against the Zaire species, can offer protection in this outbreak. The vaccine is being given through ring vaccination, targeting close contacts of confirmed patients (and contacts of contacts), the strategy that helped end previous Zaire outbreaks.
WHO has also convened expert groups on two vaccines designed specifically against Bundibugyo, with findings expected soon. “Today, scientists are building on that experience to seek answers about Bundibugyo virus,” WHO’s technical lead for vaccine trials told UN News, referring to the ring vaccination trials that helped end earlier Ebola outbreaks.
Kenya: 20 contacts discharged
- Kenya has recorded nine cases, including two deaths, all linked to a man who travelled from the DRC and died two days after arriving in Nairobi on 3 October.
- More than 130 contacts were identified and quarantined; 20 have been discharged.
- A UN humanitarian fund has allocated more than US$2 million for Kenya’s preparedness and response.
Nigeria: no further cases
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, said on 28 October that there had been no further cases since the single imported case, that 53 contacts had been traced and monitored, and that the patient, evacuated to Switzerland, was recovering.
What ring vaccination means for nurses
- Front-line health workers are usually included in the “ring”, as they are among the people most at risk.
- Vaccination does not replace PPE and infection control, especially while effectiveness against Bundibugyo is unknown.
- Nurses taking part in trials should receive clear information, give informed consent, and report any side effects.
- Accurate contact tracing, much of it done by nurses and community health workers, is what makes ring vaccination possible.
Related: Bundibugyo vs Zaire explained · Kenya’s health workers stable · Nurse killed in DR Congo · Ebola PPE guide
Sources: UN News (28 October 2026); ThisDay via AllAfrica (28 October 2026).