Ebola deaths in DR Congo rise to at least 131, Rubio says WHO 'late' identifying outbreak

A Congolese health worker checks the temperature to screen a traveller at the Grande Barrier border following confirmation of an Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain, at the border crossing point between Congo and Rwanda, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 18, 2026. © Arlette Bashizi, Reuters

The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen sharply to at least 131 from 513 suspected cases, Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said, as the World Health Organization on Tuesday hosted an emergency committee meeting to address the crisis. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the WHO "a little late" in identifying the outbreak after the Trump administration's sweeping funding cuts to the organisation earlier this year.

The toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to an estimated 131 deaths from 513 suspected cases, Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said.