More than 900 suspected Ebola cases have been reported in DR Congo and Uganda, with 204 suspected deaths recorded in both countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Out of these, there are seven confirmed cases in Uganda, including one death. Health officials, working alongside WHO and other partners, have stepped up response efforts to contain the outbreak. ALSO READ: Seven things to know about the latest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo The outbreak is centred in Ituri province in eastern DR Congo. According to the WHO, one in four people in the conflict-hit region needs humanitarian assistance, while 20 per cent of the local population has been internally displaced. ALSO READ: Experimental vaccine offers hope against rare Ebola strain According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General WHO, violence and insecurity have forced residents, health workers, and humanitarian staff to flee affected areas. This has disrupted Ebola response efforts such as contact tracing and early detection of infections. “Fear and insecurity have increased mistrust within communities, making containment efforts more difficult. Despite these challenges, WHO and its health partners continue operating across Ituri, including in some of the hardest-to-reach areas,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. African health leaders and international partners met in Kampala on May 22 to 23 and agreed to strengthen regional coordination and mobilise more resources to contain the Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda. The meeting convened by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) was attended by health ministers from DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, along with representatives from WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and other partners. WHO Africa Regional Office Emergency Director Dr Marie Roseline Belizaire said close collaboration among countries and agencies would be essential in controlling the outbreak. “No single agency, no single country can respond to this magnitude of outbreak alone. Coordination, solidarity and collaboration are critical.” Partners also agreed on priority measures, including strengthening cross-border surveillance and early warning systems, improving laboratory and diagnostic capacity, harmonising health measures at border points, and reinforcing infection prevention and control systems. Although response plans and budgets are still being finalised, preliminary estimates show that about $264 million may be needed for operations in DR Congo and Uganda, with an additional $54 million required to strengthen preparedness in neighbouring high-risk countries, including South Sudan.
