The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has now surpassed 500 confirmed cases, with the total reaching 471 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as of Saturday, June 6, 2026. This marks a significant increase, with an additional 100 cases and 20 deaths reported from the previous day. The outbreak, declared on May 15 in northeastern DRC, is raising alarms due to its escalating scale and speed..

In the DRC, health authorities have confirmed 452 cases, including 82 deaths. Neighboring Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths.. This rapid spread has prompted the WHO to declare the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern..

Experts warn that without robust public health interventions, the current outbreak could rival the devastating 2014 West Africa epidemic, which saw over 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths.. US health officials' modeling suggests the potential for over 20,000 cases, with some scenarios predicting even higher numbers if the spread is not contained effectively..

The rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola is behind this outbreak, and currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments available.. The response efforts are further complicated by armed conflict in the DRC, which has led to the displacement of large populations and hinders contact tracing and containment measures..

In response to the escalating crisis, the WHO and the African CDC have launched a $518 million plan to combat the outbreak over the next six months. This plan focuses on bolstering surveillance, laboratory testing, and infection prevention strategies.. Despite these efforts, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged that "the outbreak is moving fast, and we are still playing catch-up.".