More than 1,700 people have been infected with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and hundreds have died.
65% confidence
HealthAfrica
Omissions
The most recent pre-session data point located (ReliefWeb/OCHA, data as of 23 June 2026) recorded 1,114 confirmed cases and 279 confirmed deaths — below the claimed 1,700 infected. However, the outbreak was growing at roughly 60-70 new confirmed cases per day between late June and early August, so the count plausibly crossed 1,700 during the first week of July 2026.
Sources showing 3,800+ infections and 1,700+ deaths (CBC; figures as of 4 August 2026) post-date the 8 July 2026 session and describe a later stage of the outbreak; they are used only to corroborate the growth trajectory, not as direct verification of the figure as of the speech date.
The WHO weekly situation report covering the week of 8 July 2026 could not be retrieved within the search budget; the precise case count on the speech date therefore rests on interpolation between the 23 June 2026 and early August 2026 data points.
The death component of the claim ('hundreds have died') is fully verified: 279 confirmed deaths had been reported as of 23 June 2026.
Sources
PrimaryWorld Health Organization — Ebola outbreak DRC 2026An Ebola outbreak was confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Uganda in May 2026. The Bundibugyo species of Ebola involved is one for which [no licensed vaccine exists].