Overview
- As of early June health authorities report roughly 452 confirmed cases and 82 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo plus 19 cases and two deaths in Uganda, for a regional total of about 471 cases and 84 deaths.
- WHO and Africa CDC have activated a six-month, $518 million response plan to boost surveillance, testing, infection control and clinical care across affected countries.
- Officials say the outbreak circulated undetected since at least April and was declared on 15 May after initial tests targeted a different Ebola strain, allowing fast community transmission.
- The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain for which no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral exists, and infections among health workers and women caregivers are driving transmission and straining services.
- Countries have tightened travel and screening measures, with the United States redirecting travelers to designated airports and Europe ramping up surveillance, while strained local health systems and population movement raise the risk of wider regional spread.