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WHO: 321 confirmed Ebola cases in DRC, 116 more suspected cases

The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency following an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which has already caused 42 deaths. Officials have confirmed over 300 cases as regional health agencies scale up their emergency response.

REUTERS

June 2, 2026

WHO: 321 confirmed Ebola cases in DRC, 116 more suspected cases

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus meets health officials at the Evangelical Medical Center (CEM), one of the facilities at the forefront of the response to the Ebola outbreak, during his visit to coordinate the response to the Ebola outbreak, as agencies intensify efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 31, 2026.

Stringer / Reuters

GENEVA — The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that there are 116 suspected and 321 confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.


To date, there have been 41 deaths and six recoveries in the Congo. Meanwhile, neighboring Uganda has reported nine confirmed cases and one associated death, according to WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier during a press briefing in Geneva.


The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention initially announced the outbreak on May 15, marking Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak. Following the announcement, the World Health Organization swiftly declared the situation a public health emergency of international concern.


-Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; editing by Matthias Williams/Reuters

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