Congo's Ebola outbreak shows no signs of slowing as deaths top 3,000

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Congo’s Ebola outbreak has killed more than 3,000 people out of more than 6,100 confirmed cases, according to the latest government data from Wednesday, as the disease is spreading at an unprecedented speed, faster than efforts to track and slow it.

Data from Congo’s Ministry of Health showed the outbreak has recorded 6,186 confirmed cases, including 3,007 deaths since it was declared a global health emergency in mid-May. It remains the fastest-growing outbreak of Ebola ever.

Jean-Claude Angwanzia, a resident of Bunia, said that he left Mambassa in the epicenter of Ituri province, because he didn’t feel safe. He said that he hardly saw health workers and infected bodies were being mishandled, prompting safety concerns.

“I had to flee the area because of the danger looming over us,” he said.

The pace of the outbreak is putting a strain on people's lives.

Papy Baraka, a public transportation driver in Bunia, has had to cut down on the number of passengers he picks up in his car.

“The disease puts everyone at risk, and daily life has slowed to a crawl. We are afraid,” he said.

Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in cases, with two new health zones affected last week in North Kivu, where the fatality rate is much higher than in the rest of the affected provinces. The virus has spread to six provinces.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday in a report that the efforts to contain the virus “remained below established response targets” and the fast expansion of the disease across many health zones indicates “uncontrolled expansion of the outbreak.”

The report said that the statistics show that most of the cases are “occurring outside known transmission chains” as a result of the percentage of confirmed new cases coming from only between 15% and 20% of known contacts.

Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Wednesday that there are chains of transmission the health authorities are not aware of.

“Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue; And it will continue to pose a threat to DRC, its neighbors, and the region as a whole,” he said.

Health workers are struggling under difficult conditions and have gone on strike multiple times to demand their pay.

The disease has continued to spread rapidly for several reasons, including conflict in the eastern region of the country where the outbreak is concentrated, attacks on health workers, miners constantly on the move, and inadequate health infrastructure.

The resumption of school in the middle of the outbreak has also raised concerns about transmission in classrooms.

The World Health Organization said that the outbreak is on track to exceed the deadliest on record, West Africa's regional outbreak between 2014 and 2016, which killed 11,000 people.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the outbreak is possibly three times larger than the number of cases recorded, as surveillance and contact tracing are still weak. Despite that, the outbreak has already become Congo's deadliest Ebola outbreak.

There is no vaccine or approved treatment for the rare Bundibugyo virus that has sparked the current outbreak. A couple of vaccines are being developed to tackle the disease.

Last week, the government started the distribution of the Ervebo vaccine to front-line health workers in Kisangani in the northeastern Tshopo region. Ervebo has helped combat previous Ebola disease outbreaks, and WHO said that it could offer some protection.

Women weep as they attend the burial ceremony of Neema Minaro, a 66 year old woman who died of the Ebola virus, in Bunia, Congo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Dieudonne Dirole)

Health workers carry the coffin of Neema Minaro, a 66 year old woman who died of the Ebola virus, in Bunia, Congo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Dieudonne Dirole)

Workers after a burial ceremony cover the grave of Neema Minaro, a 66 year old woman who died of the Ebola virus, in Bunia, Congo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Dieudonne Dirole)

People weep as they attend the burial ceremony of Neema Minaro, a 66 year old woman who died of the Ebola virus, in Bunia, Congo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Dieudonne Dirole)

Health workers bury the coffin of Neema Minaro, a 66 year old woman who died of the Ebola virus, in Bunia, Congo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Dieudonne Dirole)

A school official checks students' temperatures as they enter school, on the first day of the new school year amid the Ebola virus outbreak, in Ituri, Congo, Tuesday, Sept.1, 2026. (AP Photo/Dieudonne Dirole)

People dressed in protective gear lower into a grave the coffin containing the remains of Jeannine Katusabe, who died of Ebola, during a burial service in Bunia, Ituri province, eastern Congo, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Dieudonne Dirole)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Jose Mourinho can go from abrasive to charming in public appearances.

The veteran Portuguese coach chose to be at his gracious best on Saturday when journalists pressed him to give hints of his game plan a day before Real Madrid's visit to Barcelona in the clasico.

“You can ask me another question,” Mourinho told reporters in Spain's capital, “but my plans for the game — who is going to play, what formation we are going to use, what style of play we’ll try to impose — I am not going to answer those questions.”

And when a journalist tried one last time by asking Mourinho if he thought Barcelona’s defense was its “weak point,” the coach praised him for making the effort, even if it was in vain.

“You are smart, but I am not stupid,” Mourinho responded, and earned a huge laugh from the press room.

Over his long and successful career Mourinho has generally preferred sides that look first to defend well and then strike on the break. So few doubt he will vary from that strategy on Sunday against a Barcelona that has a superior midfield and wants to hold possession.

Yet there remain questions about his lineup, especially regarding where he will play playmaker Arda Guler and Federico Valverde, who can play either in midfield or right back.

Mourinho started a second stint with Madrid this season and can expect a hostile welcome from Barcelona’s fans.

In his first period at Madrid from 2010-13, he took the rivalry between Spain’s biggest clubs to new heights thanks to his team’s tough tactics and his own verbal jousting with counterpart Pep Guardiola.

But Mourinho downplayed the expected fan reaction on his return.

“It’s just like going to any other stadium,” he said. “It’s not the same to play against a high-quality team as it is to play against a less strong one, but it’s no big deal.”

Barcelona leads La Liga with Madrid six points behind in third place, but it is looking to bounce back from its 4-2 loss at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League midweek.

Hansi Flick's side won its previous 11 games this season.

“We’ve analysed the game. We did some things very well, but there are other areas where we need to improve," Flick said on Saturday about the PSG stumble. "Tomorrow is a great opportunity to do that and show how we want to play.”

Flick said Barcelona was almost at full strength but will be missing right back Jules Koundé along with injured midfielder Dani Olmo.

Koundé’s absence removes any doubt that Xavi Espart will start at right back and face off with another 19-year-old in Madrid’s Yan Diomande.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho gestures during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Roma and Real Madrid, in Rome, Wednesday, Oct.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho sits on the bench before the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho sits on the bench before the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)