Uganda’s Ministry of Health announced six new cases of Ebola, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases in the country to 15 since the disease outbreak began in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The ministry reported one death from the virus in Uganda so far, noting that it is making strenuous efforts to prevent the disease from spreading further.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), authorities have reported 321 confirmed cases and 48 deaths from the disease, in addition to 116 suspected cases that have not yet undergone laboratory testing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the number of suspected cases in eastern Congo has decreased after testing the remaining samples, while also emphasising that the decline in numbers does not necessarily mean the outbreak is under control.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said that the increase in the number of suspected cases may reflect improvements in surveillance and early detection, and indicates that people experiencing symptoms are seeking medical care.
The World Health Organization announced in early May that the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo likely began about two months before it was discovered, confirming the spread of the rare Bundibugyo virus.