Nation / PlaceCD

Équateur

Province of north-western DR Congo on the Congo river.

Ebola reached Sud-Ubangi, one of the provinces carved out of the old Équateur in 2015, on 10 September 2026, putting the 2026 Bundibugyo outbreak on the northern EDGE of a province that has fought three Ebola outbreaks since 2018.

Last refreshed: 4 October 2026

Timeline for Équateur

#14 10 Sept

Mentioned in: Ebola reaches Sud-Ubangi by river boat

Pandemics and Biosecurity

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Background

Équateur is a province of north-western DR Congo. Mbandaka, a port on the Congo river, serves as its capital. The province covers 103,902 square km and borders the Republic of the Congo. The 2015 reorganisation split the former Équateur into the present province plus Sud-Ubangi, Nord-Ubangi, Mongala and Tshuapa.

The province has fought Ebola three times since 2018. The first came in May 2018, when Zaire ebolavirus reached the provincial capital and WHO feared it would follow the river to Kinshasa and Brazzaville. Responders used an experimental vaccine, and by July 2018 the province had ended that outbreak with neither capital touched. An outbreak in 2020 reached 130 cases and 55 deaths in 13 health zones before WHO declared it over on 18 November. One declared in April 2022 killed all five of its cases, according to Africa CDC.

The 2026 Bundibugyo outbreak has reached the old Équateur through Sud-Ubangi. A passenger on a river boat from Kisangani carried the virus there, and two cases were confirmed by 1 October 2026.

Key Issues

Ebola outbreak

Ebola returned to the old Équateur

The 2026 Bundibugyo outbreak crossed into land that belonged to Équateur before the 2015 split when Sud-Ubangi's interim governor declared Ebola on 10 September 2026. The case had come by river, from Kisangani to Akula port, a journey of about 1,000 km. Sud-Ubangi registered a second confirmed case by 22 September.

For Équateur, the arrival revives a familiar fear. Its capital, Mbandaka, is a Congo river port, and in May 2018 WHO worried that Zaire ebolavirus would ride the river from there to Kinshasa and Brazzaville. Équateur contained that outbreak by July 2018, then ended a 2020 outbreak of 130 cases and 55 deaths on 18 November that year. Africa CDC recorded a third, declared in April 2022, in which all five patients died.

Common Questions

Where is Équateur province?

In north-western DR Congo, on the Congo river, bordering the Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Mbandaka.Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89quateur_(province)

Has the 2026 Ebola outbreak reached Équateur?

No. WHO's 25 September bulletin lists seven affected provinces; Équateur is not one. Neighbouring Sud-Ubangi, once part of Équateur, had two cases by 1 October.Source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON618

How many Ebola outbreaks has Équateur had since 2018?

Three: in 2018, when the virus reached Mbandaka; in 2020, with 130 cases and 55 deaths; and in 2022, with five cases, all fatal.Source: https://africacdc.org/news-item/the-14th-ebola-outbreak-declared-over-in-equateur-province-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/

Source Material

New Ebola outbreak detected in northwest DR Congo Équateur (province)