Three newly confirmed Ebola infections in Uganda lifted the country's total to five, reversing the WHO's assessment a day earlier that the situation there was stable.
The new patients were a Ugandan driver who transported the first victim, a healthcare worker who treated that patient, and a Congolese woman who entered Uganda with symptoms on May 14.
Uganda's health ministry said it is tracing and monitoring all contacts linked to the new cases as cross-border transmission from Congo drives the spread.
In Congo, the Bundibugyo-strain outbreak has reached 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths, alongside about 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths, which WHO called deeply worrisome.
With no vaccine and unreliable tests, how can health officials possibly contain this rare and deadly Ebola outbreak?
When an epidemic strikes a war zone, how do doctors trace contacts among people fleeing violence and militias?
Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak Escalates in 2026: Over 130 Deaths, No Treatment, and Global Mobilization Needed
Overview
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO Director-General in May 2026, has escalated rapidly and now demands urgent global action. The situation is especially alarming due to major uncertainties about the true number of cases and the outbreak’s actual spread, with early testing showing a high positivity rate and confirmed cases in multiple locations. Experts warn the outbreak is likely much larger than reported, making swift international mobilization essential to contain the crisis and prevent further transmission.