Democratic Republic of Congo bans mass gatherings as Ebola cases reach 1,307

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have banned mass gatherings in the capital city of Kinshasa and multiple provinces in an effort to contain an escalating Ebola outbreak, with reported cases rising to 1,307.

The public health directive follows reporting that the virus has spread throughout the northeast of the country, recently reaching a fourth province. The implementation of gathering restrictions in Kinshasa marks a significant escalation in the national response, aimed at preventing transmission in densely populated urban centres.

According to reports from international news agencies, the ban on public assemblies encompasses the capital alongside at least three other provinces. Government and health officials are attempting to limit community transmission of the disease, which requires direct contact with bodily fluids to spread but continues to pose a severe public health risk.

The ongoing outbreak remains a severe public health crisis for the region as of July 2026. Medical authorities and public health teams face the sustained challenge of managing transmission across a widening geographic area, as the situation remains fluid and efforts to isolate new cases continue.