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Congo’s Ebola outbreak now second largest on record, data shows

By Thomson Reuters Jul 31, 2026 | 2:59 AM

By Clement Bonnerot and AyenDeng Bior

July 31 (Reuters) – The Ebola ​outbreak is ‌the second largest on record globally, government data showed on Friday, ‌as ​transmission continues ⁠to outpace efforts ⁠to contain the disease.

Congo reported 3,532 cases on Friday, surpassing ​the total 3,481 cases recorded ⁠during the ⁠2018-20 outbreak. Total ​deaths stood at 1,556, ​the Central African country’s ‌communications ministry said on X.

Only West Africa’s 2014-16 outbreak ⁠was larger, with 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths recorded ⁠across ‌Guinea, Liberia ⁠and Sierra Leone, ​according ‌to the World ​Health Organization.

(Additional ⁠reporting by Fiston Mahamba and Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Alexander Winning and Jessica ​Donati)