The World Health Organisation (WHO), in its situation report, said the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has crossed into neighbouring Uganda, with infections in the region now exceeding 500 confirmed cases.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare and severe form of Ebola disease, has resulted in 534 confirmed cases and 93 deaths across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as of 6 June, the WHO said.

The DRC remains the epicentre of transmission, accounting for 515 confirmed cases and 91 deaths. Uganda has recorded 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths and one probable fatal case, all linked epidemiologically to importation from eastern Congo or secondary transmission among contacts.

WHO said the situation reflects ongoing transmission in eastern DRC alongside cross-border spread driven by population movement and exposure in healthcare settings.

The outbreak is heavily concentrated in Ituri Province, which accounts for nearly 95% of confirmed cases in the DRC, though infections have also been reported in North Kivu and South Kivu.

WHO warned that the spread across multiple health zones signals sustained and geographically expanding transmission.

According to the agency, the recent increase in case numbers is partly due to expanded laboratory testing and the processing of a backlog of samples. However, the WHO cautioned that new infections continue to be detected, indicating active transmission chains.

Security conditions in eastern Congo remain a major challenge to containment efforts. WHO reported that attacks affecting health facilities and insecurity in affected areas are disrupting surveillance, delaying response operations and limiting access to vulnerable communities.

Sixteen healthcare and frontline workers have been infected in the DRC since the outbreak began, highlighting the risks faced by medical staff and the difficulty of maintaining infection prevention and control measures in strained health systems.

In Uganda, WHO said all confirmed cases are linked to the outbreak in the DRC. Most infections have been reported in Kampala and Wakiso districts and are associated with travellers from Congo or their close contacts.

While Uganda has not reported sustained community transmission, hundreds of contacts are being actively monitored as part of intensified surveillance and containment measures.

Bundibugyo virus disease is a form of Ebola first identified in Uganda in 2007. The virus is zoonotic in origin, with fruit bats considered the most likely natural reservoir. It spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials and can spread rapidly in healthcare settings without adequate infection control.

Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache and muscle pain, which can make early detection difficult as they resemble other common tropical illnesses. In severe cases, the disease can progress to organ failure and haemorrhagic complications.

WHO noted that previous outbreaks of Bundibugyo virus disease have recorded fatality rates between 30% and 50%, though the final mortality rate for the current outbreak remains under investigation.

More than 5,000 contacts are being monitored in the DRC and nearly 700 in Uganda, according to WHO figures. Response efforts include surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory strengthening, infection prevention and control, and risk communication campaigns.

WHO, together with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and partners, has launched a continental preparedness and response plan aimed at strengthening outbreak detection and response capacity across at-risk countries.

The agency has advised against travel or trade restrictions, stating that coordinated cross-border surveillance and public health collaboration remain the most effective tools to control the outbreak.

WHO currently assesses the risk as very high in the DRC, high in Uganda, and high in neighbouring countries with land borders to affected areas.

With transmission continuing across eastern Congo and imported cases already confirmed in Uganda, the WHO warned that the outbreak remains active and requires sustained international attention to prevent further regional spread.

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