Ebola spreading ‘exponentially’ in DR Congo, experts warn
Updated Aug 26, 2026,
Experts warned that Ebola is spreading “exponentially” in the Democratic Republic of Congo as unpaid health workers struggle to contain the virus.
A lack of funding, widespread misinformation, and poor infrastructure have left authorities in the war-torn country scrambling to contain the outbreak, already the fastest-growing on record and which many fear could become the most deadly.
While Western pharmaceutical firms are racing to develop a vaccine — some of which are close to trials — none are expected to be widely available soon, putting the onus for containing the disease on underfunded DRC authorities. “Delayed financing costs lives; fragmented financing leaves gaps. Ebola exploits both,” the heads of the WHO and the Africa CDC wrote.