WHO and Africa CDC launch 8 million Ebola response plan amid rising death toll in Uganda
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have initiated a comprehensive response plan valued at 8 million to address a significant Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and parts of Uganda. Announced on June 5, 2026, the collaborative effort is designed to run from June to November and aims to bolster emergency coordination, testing, surveillance, infection prevention, clinical care, and community engagement in impacted regions.
The outbreak, which was first identified in the DRC on May 15, has shown alarming growth, with the health ministry reporting a total of at least 452 infections and 82 fatalities. In a recent update, authorities highlighted a surge in cases, including 71 new infections within a mere 24-hour span, indicating “rapid and continuous community transmission.” Uganda has also reported a rise in the number of cases, with three additional infections recorded on the same day, pushing the total to 19, including two fatalities.
Central to this initiative is the containment of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which appears to have been circulating undetected for an extended period. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed confidence that the joint health plan with Africa CDC aims to control the outbreak effectively. He emphasized the importance of immediate action to stop the virus where it exists and prepare neighboring countries to respond promptly should new cases emerge.
This outbreak is unprecedented in size compared to previous Bundibugyo strain outbreaks recorded in 2007 and 2012. Experts, including those from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have warned that without a strong public health response, the situation could escalate into one of the largest Ebola crises in history, potentially rivaling the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa.
Currently, three vaccines targeting this strain are under development and are being expedited for trials. However, a licensed vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain remains unavailable at this juncture. In a related development, tensions have escalated in Kenya over the establishment of a US Ebola quarantine facility, which has incited protests among locals who fear potential repercussions despite the country not having recorded any Ebola cases. As this crisis unfolds, it underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and effective public health strategies to mitigate the spread of this deadly virus.
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