Ebola death toll tops 3,000 in Congo as other outbreaks spread across Africa and Australia

Congo's Ministry of Health has recorded 6,186 confirmed cases, including 3,007 deaths, since the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency in May. The outbreak was declared 100 days ago and officials say it is spreading faster than any Ebola outbreak on record.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is now launching an Ebola vaccination campaign to contain the virus, according to local authorities. The campaign aims to reach high-risk populations as cases continue to surge.

Meanwhile, a separate health emergency is unfolding in West Africa. Guinea-Bissau reported a national mpox outbreak on 4 July after a 27-year-old woman became the country's first confirmed case. Since then, the country has recorded seven confirmed cases and 46 suspected cases. More than half of those patients have been children, with 16 under the age of four, according to local authorities. Concerns remain that the virus may be spreading undetected.

In Australia, diphtheria — once considered eliminated — has seen a resurgence, with more than 500 cases reported this year. Governments are working to mitigate the largest outbreak since records began.

The combined strain on public health systems highlights the challenges of managing multiple infectious disease emergencies across different regions simultaneously.

Why This Matters

The Congo Ebola outbreak has become the deadliest on record, with mortality accelerating faster than previous epidemics.
Children are disproportionately affected by mpox in Guinea-Bissau, raising concerns about undetected community transmission.
Australia's diphtheria resurgence, after the disease was considered eliminated, signals gaps in routine vaccination coverage.

Background

Ebola, mpox and diphtheria are all vaccine-preventable diseases. The Congo outbreak was declared a global health emergency in May 2026. Guinea-Bissau's mpox outbreak began in July. Australia had effectively eliminated diphtheria through widespread immunisation, but cases have climbed sharply this year. All three outbreaks place additional pressure on already strained health systems, particularly in regions with limited resources.

Key Perspectives

Public health authorities in Congo: Focused on the urgent vaccination campaign to stem the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. Health officials in Guinea-Bissau: Grappling with limited testing capacity and a high proportion of child cases, suggesting possible undetected spread. Australian health authorities: Implementing outbreak mitigation measures for a disease that was once considered eliminated locally.

What to Watch

Whether the Congo Ebola vaccination campaign reaches enough high-risk populations to slow transmission.
Continued case counts in Guinea-Bissau to determine if mpox is spreading beyond known clusters.
Diphtheria case numbers in Australia as winter ends and public health interventions take effect.

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