World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on June 6 praised Uganda for its rapid and competent response to the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, expressing confidence that the disease can be contained.
Speaking during a visit to Uganda, Tedros said the government had mounted a “swift and effective” response. Border screening measures helped detect cases arriving from the DR Congo, while surveillance, testing, and case management systems functioned steadily.
The eastern DR Congo province of Ituri, which borders Uganda, is the epicenter of the outbreak. The region has been plagued by decades of conflict, hampering Congo’s response. The Ebola epidemic has deepened the humanitarian crisis, with nearly 27 million people facing severe food insecurity.
Both the DR Congo and Uganda declared Ebola outbreaks on May 15. It is the third-largest outbreak in history, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain—for which there is no approved treatment or vaccine.
Uganda shut its border with the DR Congo nearly two weeks ago to prevent the spread of the virus, but the move disrupted local trade and risks broader economic consequences. Tedros urged Uganda to “reconsider” the decision due to its economic impact. “There is no need for restrictions because they affect the economy. Restrictions don’t really help… Addressing the epicenter is the solution,” he said.
According to data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on June 6, confirmed Ebola cases in the DR Congo rose to 544, with 88 deaths. Uganda reported 19 confirmed cases, including 14 from people who crossed from Congo, and two deaths.
South Sudan, which borders both the DR Congo and Uganda, has not recorded any Ebola cases in the current outbreak but remains at high risk due to its geographical proximity to the outbreak zone. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on June 3 that it is monitoring the economic impact of the crisis on the DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan but cannot yet assess the broader effects.
Conflict among armed groups vying for mineral resources in Ituri is also complicating disease control efforts.
