WHO Chief Urges Uganda to Ease DRC Border Closure as Ebola Cases Reach 544
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 8
WHO Chief Urges Uganda to Ease DRC Border Closure as Ebola Cases Reach 544
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 8
Summary
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Uganda’s border screening and surveillance had mounted a prompt response to Ebola, but urged Kampala to reconsider its nearly two-week closure with the DRC.
544 confirmed cases and 88 deaths have been reported in the DRC, while Uganda has confirmed 19 cases and two deaths, with 14 infections linked to travelers from across the border.
Tedros said restrictions do not help contain the outbreak and instead disrupt trade, echoing concerns after the IMF said it was monitoring possible economic fallout for the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan.
The outbreak, declared in both countries on May 15, is the third-largest on record and is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved treatment or vaccine.
Eastern DRC’s Ituri province remains the epicenter, where conflict and nearly 27 million people facing acute food insecurity are complicating efforts to bring the epidemic under control.
As Ebola spreads, why is the WHO's advice to keep borders open being ignored by major world powers?
Can the third-largest Ebola outbreak in history be stopped while it rages inside a war zone?
Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak Escalates: 900 Suspected Cases, No Vaccine, and International Response Challenges
Overview
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, as of June 8, 2026, faces major challenges due to the lack of approved vaccines or specific treatments for this strain. While some experimental therapies exist, they are not widely available, leading to stark disparities in care—many people in Congo cannot access advanced treatment. This situation highlights the urgent need for developing and distributing accessible medical tools. The outbreak has seen a rapid rise in suspected cases and deaths, with a high fatality rate, making containment difficult and stressing the importance of improved diagnostics and equitable healthcare solutions.