Ebola Outbreak: Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda - Externl Update 4 June 2026

Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Overview of the outbreak • A new Ebola virus disease outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on 15 May and as of 2 June, WHO has reported 344 confirmed cases, six recoveries and 60 deaths, including two internally displaced people (IDPs) in eastern DRC. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccines or therapeutics. • Since 17 May when WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the virus has spread from Bunia in Ituri province to North Kivu and South Kivu, affecting 24 health zones, many of them located close to refugee camps and sites across the three provinces. • More than 2 million forcibly displaced people including 230,000 refugees and asylum-seekers live in the areas at highest risk in eastern DRC. Persistent conflict and insecurity in the area has severely impacted local infrastructure and health systems, reduced humanitarian access, and disrupted protection services. This has increased protection risks for forcibly displaced people, weakened their inclusion in health surveillance systems and reduced access to healthcare. • Uganda has also reported 15 confirmed Ebola cases, including two recoveries and one death. While no forcibly displaced people are among the reported cases, exposure risks remain significant. • In Uganda, some reception and transit centres are operating above capacity. UNHCR and its partners are working to decongest these facilities through relocations to settlements.