The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has risen to 452, including 82 deaths, according to the latest situation report released by the country's health ministry. A total of 258 patients are currently in isolation or receiving hospital care, while eight have recovered.
According to the report, health authorities confirmed 71 new Ebola cases on Thursday in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, highlighting rapid and sustained community transmission of the Bundibugyo strain.
A health worker prepares for duty at a treatment center in Mongbwalu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, June 5, 2026. /VCG
Health authorities identified several key challenges to the response, including resistance to post-mortem swabbing, insufficient standardized treatment capacity, weak contact tracing, medicine shortages, inadequate infection-prevention supplies in North Kivu, and a $21.5 million funding gap.
Uganda has also confirmed three new Ebola cases, bringing its total to 19, the Ugandan Ministry of Health said on Friday.
The Africa CDC and WHO on Friday launched a continental Ebola outbreak preparedness and response plan, aiming to raise $518 million to support African countries to prepare for, rapidly detect and respond to the outbreak for the period between June and November.
(With input from Xinhua News Agency)