Kenya and DR Congo Ebola Cases Rise

Source reports published 19 Oct 2026, 4:36 am – 11:15 am AEST

Ebola cases have risen to eight in Kenya and spread to an eighth province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The disease is spreading through direct contact with bodily fluids and contaminated surfaces.

What happened

• Kenya's Health Ministry confirmed a new Ebola case on Sunday, bringing the total to eight.
• The 49-year-old patient, a patient attendant, likely contracted the virus after exposure to the first case, who died on October 5.
• Six other patients were stable after receiving treatment.
• Simultaneously, authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported two new Ebola cases in Nord-Ubangi province, bordering the Central African Republic.
• The outbreak, now in its eighth province, has caused at least 9,400 cases and over 4,500 deaths since May.
• Efforts to contain the spread are struggling, with the Bundibugyo virus remaining untreatable.
• Neighbouring Uganda has implemented border screenings and monitoring measures.
• The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, stated that the outbreak was geographically spreading out.
• Kenya has strengthened screening measures and established an emergency hotline, while Tanzania has tightened border screenings.

Original reporting

• Deutsche Welle: Ebola: Kenya cases rise to 8, spreads to 8th Congo province
  2026-10-18T22:04:34.905000+00:00
• ABC: Kenyan Ebola cases rise to eight in two weeks
  2026-10-19T01:15:08+00:00
• Al Jazeera: Kenya confirms eighth Ebola case amid widening regional outbreak
  2026-10-19T00:00:00+00:00
• South China Morning Post: DR Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province
  2026-10-18T18:36:18+00:00