Geneva, Switzerland, May 20: The World Health Organization on Wednesday said that 528 suspected Ebola cases, including 132 deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as of May 18.
According to the WHO, 668 contacts have been identified, including 541 in DR Congo and 127 in Uganda. Authorities said monitoring contacts remains difficult in some parts of DR Congo due to insecurity and movement restrictions.
The UN health agency has declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus a public health emergency of international concern.
In a statement posted on X, WHO said that out of 12 suspected cases reported in Uganda, two were confirmed through laboratory testing, while the remaining cases tested negative.
The organisation said alert management and case investigations are being intensified in the affected countries. In DR Congo, 38 experts — including 20 from the Ministry of Health and 18 from WHO — have been deployed from Kinshasa to Bunia to support response operations.
WHO also said that more than 17 tons of emergency supplies, including personal protective equipment, medical supplies, tents, stretchers and medicines, have been shipped to DR Congo.
The agency is expanding laboratory capacity through the deployment of lab teams and mobile laboratories to affected areas to strengthen testing and diagnostic activities. Risk communication and community engagement efforts are also being scaled up to ensure local communities remain actively involved in the response.
Meanwhile, India’s Health Ministry is closely monitoring the Ebola situation in DR Congo and Uganda, according to official sources.
Senior officials from the Ministry, including representatives from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and other departments, have reviewed the evolving situation and initiated precautionary public health measures.
A senior Health Ministry official clarified on Monday that no Ebola case has been reported in India and that the current risk to the country remains minimal. However, surveillance and preparedness measures are being strengthened at points of entry and across the public health system as a precaution. (ANI)
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