DRC Ebola deaths hit 600; Uganda cases reported; Bundibugyo trials start July 2

As of June 2, 2026, the WHO reported 600 deaths from 1,759 confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, giving a 34% fatality rate. In the DRC, 285 patients have recovered while 304 suspected cases remain under investigation. Neighboring Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases with 17 recoveries and 2 deaths.

The outbreak, concentrated in Ituri province and driven by the lethal Bundibugyo strain (for which no vaccines or treatments exist), began on May 15 in this mineral-rich region plagued by armed groups. Crucially, clinical trials testing the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and antiviral remdesivir—both alone and in combination—commenced in the DRC on July 2.

This represents a sharp escalation from just three days prior when deaths surpassed 500, highlighting the outbreak's rapid acceleration. The lack of approved countermeasures against the Bundibugyo variant raises regional alarm, especially with confirmed cases appearing in Uganda. For Nigerians, this echoes the devastating 2014 Ebola outbreak that claimed lives across West Africa, underscoring the need for vigilance amid regional travel and trade.

Given Ebola's transmission through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, travelers to the DRC or Uganda should avoid touching blood, vomit, or feces of sick persons and seek immediate medical care for unexplained fever or bleeding. Health authorities continue monitoring the situation closely with DRC officials.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/07/09/600-dead-in-dr-congo-ebola-outbreak/