The death rate among confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has exceeded 50%, following an upward revision of the country’s official death toll as the outbreak continues to spread across several provinces.
According to a Bloomberg report, citing the country’s National Institute of Public Health, the outbreak has recorded 10,414 confirmed infections and 5,372 deaths, bringing the case-fatality ratio to 51.6%.
The development comes as the United States announced additional travel restrictions targeting passengers with recent travel history to DR Congo, amid concerns over the continued spread of the disease.
The restrictions, scheduled to take effect late Tuesday, November 3, 2026, will require international travellers boarding US-bound flights to declare whether they have visited DR Congo within the preceding 21 days.
According to health authorities, the increase in the reported fatality rate followed a review of mortality records across 97% of affected health zones in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak.
Although infections have been reported beyond DR Congo, transmission in neighbouring countries remains limited.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Sunday that international travellers would face additional screening and boarding requirements in response to the outbreak.
The restrictions could affect international travel arrangements, particularly for passengers transiting through other countries after visiting DR Congo.
Nigeria has also intensified surveillance following concerns about the possible spread of Ebola across African borders.
Despite the evacuation, Nigerian authorities continued monitoring identified contacts to rule out further transmission.
The Federal Government also disclosed that Nigeria could declare the Ebola outbreak over by December 7, 2026, provided no additional confirmed or probable cases emerge and the World Health Organisation validates the required 42-day surveillance period.
Meanwhile, the outbreak has raised concerns about funding accountability. Africa CDC questioned more than $700 million in Ebola response funding in DR Congo after several organisations failed to provide adequate financial records.
