Health
Jun 11, 2026
WHO chief praises Uganda’s swift response to DRC Ebola outbreak
WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Uganda for its prompt and capable actions…
WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Uganda’s “prompt and capable” actions as the country helps contain the third‑largest Ebola outbreak in history, which began on May 15 in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).Uganda’s coordinated response to the DRC Ebola outbreakUganda deployed border screening, intensified surveillance, testing and case‑management systems, and confirmed 19 cases – 14 linked to travel from the DRC – with two deaths reported.Case numbers and mortality ratesDRC confirmed cases: 544DRC deaths: 88Uganda confirmed cases: 19Uganda deaths: 2Strain: Bundibugyo (no approved treatment or vaccine)Economic and humanitarian ripple effectsUganda closed its border with the DRC two weeks after the outbreak was declared, disrupting trade and prompting the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to monitor potential economic fallout for the DRC, Uganda and neighboring South Sudan.The closure also raises concerns about worsening food insecurity in the DRC, where nearly 27 million people face acute hunger.Outlook and WHO recommendationsTedros urged Ugandan authorities to “reconsider” border restrictions, emphasizing that “there is no need for restrictions since they affect the economy” and that addressing the epicentre remains the solution.The WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will continue to support surveillance and vaccination efforts as the region works to contain the outbreak.
#World Health Organization
#Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
#Uganda
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