Health & Public Health
WHO reports more than 1,000 Ebola deaths in DRC and Uganda
The Ebola outbreak declared in May has killed more than 1,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the World Health Organization said.
WHO said an overview based on official data from the two countries showed 2,473 confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 999 deaths. Uganda had registered 20 cases, including two deaths.
The DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15 after several deaths in Ituri. The outbreak has remained concentrated in that mineral-rich northeastern province, which is affected by armed groups, but cases have also been found in four other DRC provinces.
WHO said Ebola spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids. The cases reported in Uganda were mostly among Congolese citizens who crossed the border. Uganda said it had gone three weeks without registering a new case.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned last week that the outbreak had expanded faster over the past month than any previous Ebola outbreak.
Thierno Balde, WHO's incident manager for Bundibugyo virus in DRC, said on Tuesday that despite an expanded response, the outbreak remained ahead of responders and they were still catching up.
There is no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain behind the outbreak. WHO said there had been encouraging progress, with trials underway for two possible treatments, a vaccine and a post-exposure prophylaxis.
Update
WHO said 2,473 Ebola cases, including 999 deaths, had been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda had registered 20 cases, including two deaths.
The DRC outbreak was declared on May 15 after several deaths in Ituri and remained concentrated in the northeastern province.
Cases had also been found in four other DRC provinces.
Uganda said it had gone three weeks without registering a new case.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak had expanded faster over the past month than any previous Ebola outbreak.
WHO incident manager Thierno Balde said the outbreak remained ahead of the response effort.
WHO said there was no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, but trials for two possible treatments, a vaccine and post-exposure prophylaxis were underway.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 11:05:27 UTC.
Update
The outbreak was declared in mid-May.
Nearly 2,500 Ebola cases have been confirmed.
The WHO table recorded 999 confirmed deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and two in Uganda.
The WHO table was based on official data from the two countries.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 10:25:05 UTC.
Source
AFP news report published on .