FRANCE PERSPECTIVE
EBOLA IN DR CONGO SPREADING 'FASTER THAN EVER' AS HEALTH WORKERS STRIKE
DOMINANT ANGLE
France is closely watching a surge in Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is defying all historical precedents, amid a record alert from the World Health Organization, an attack on a healthcare center in Ituri, and a growing controversy over a US quarantine center in Kenya.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
ANALYSIS
Paris, July 18, 2026. The French government is closely monitoring the 17th Ebola outbreak declared in mid-May in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which the World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, describes as the "third most significant Ebola outbreak ever recorded." According to him, the disease "has spread faster than all previous outbreaks": over 2,000 cases and 796 deaths in two months, compared to over ten months to reach the same threshold during the 2018-2020 outbreak, the deadliest in the country with nearly 2,300 deaths. The latest reports indicate over 2,100 contaminations and 828 deaths, while the WHO warns that the actual scope could be two to four times higher.
The main hotspot remains the Ituri province in the east of the country, where over 80% of new cases are believed to be evading contact tracing. A recent attack on the Nyankunde treatment center on Wednesday, July 15, resulted in the death of a local leader and damage to the facility. Four Ebola patients fled in panic before returning to the center, prompting the WHO, Africa CDC, and Samaritan's Purse personnel to evacuate to Bunia for their safety.
In a more positive development, Uganda's capital, Kampala, announced on Thursday the recovery of its last patient, a Congolese national treated at Mulago hospital. The country, which has recorded 20 cases, including 15 imported from the DRC and 2 deaths, must now observe 42 days without new cases - twice the maximum incubation period of the virus - before being declared Ebola-free.
Meanwhile, a separate controversy has emerged: several Americans involved in the response efforts in the DRC have been placed in preventive quarantine at a facility managed by US health authorities in Laikipia, Kenya, a project that the Kenyan Health Minister claims to be unaware of, despite having committed to suspending its opening in June.
KEY POINTS
- France is closely monitoring the Ebola outbreak, which has resulted in 796 deaths and over 2,000 confirmed cases in just two months, a significantly faster pace than the 2018-2020 epidemic, according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO.
- The Ebola treatment center in Nyankunde, Ituri, was targeted by gunfire between militiamen and pelted by an angry family, prompting the temporary escape of four patients, sparking concerns in Paris about the situation.
- The French government is aware that Uganda announced on July 16 that its last patient had been discharged and now must wait 42 days without any new cases to be declared Ebola-free.
COGNITIVE BIASES IDENTIFIED
France's government is taking a close look at the World Health Organization's statements and official authorities' comments, which overshadow the firsthand accounts of Congolese healthcare workers.
The French perspective focuses on the security and diplomatic angle, particularly in Ituri and Kenya, rather than delving into detailed medical data on vaccination efforts.
Paris has limited coverage of the working conditions of Congolese healthcare personnel, despite mentioning their forced departure from Nyankunde due to security concerns.
Does this analysis seem accurate?
