The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on June 2, 2026, that the number of suspected Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has decreased significantly. Authorities have reclassified hundreds of potential cases as other diseases or fevers, reducing the count of suspected Ebola cases from 906 to 116. WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier stated that many suspected cases have been ruled out due to alternative diagnoses.
Currently, there are 321 confirmed Ebola cases in Congo and nine in neighboring Uganda. The Ugandan Health Ministry has reported six new cases, raising the total confirmed cases in Uganda to 15. The WHO estimates that 48 people have died from Ebola in Congo, and one death has been confirmed in Uganda.
Efforts to control the outbreak have been complicated by violence in the region, which hampers the ability to manage the crisis effectively. Dr. Imamu Tomlinson, CEO of Vituity, compared the situation to the U.S. response to COVID-19, highlighting the challenges posed by civil unrest and violence.
The U.S. has sought to establish a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans exposed to Ebola in Congo and Uganda, but this plan has faced opposition despite support from Kenyan President William Ruto. A Kenyan court has temporarily blocked the opening of the facility, with legal proceedings ongoing.