RRI.CO.ID, Geneva – The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that early case detection and community engagement remain crucial factors in efforts to contain the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is currently affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

According to WHO data as of Thursday, 28 May 2026, there were approximately 906 suspected Ebola cases in the DRC, including 223 suspected fatalities. Meanwhile, 125 cases have been confirmed in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces, with 17 confirmed deaths.

In Uganda, seven confirmed cases have been reported, including one death. All of these cases are linked to the outbreak in the DRC, and so far, there is no evidence of community transmission. WHO technical officer Anais Legand stressed the importance of community involvement in breaking the transmission chain.

“The disease can be transmitted to you when you are caring for a loved one — your husband, your child, or your mother,” Legand said in Geneva on Friday, 29 May 2026, as quoted in a WHO statement released on Saturday.

WHO is currently evaluating several medical interventions to help contain the outbreak. Legand explained that two vaccine candidates have been identified for further assessment once they become available.

For post-exposure prevention, WHO has prioritized the testing of the oral antiviral drug obeldesivir for close contacts of confirmed cases. For treatment, three therapeutic candidates have been prioritized for clinical trials: the monoclonal antibodies MBP 134 and maftivimab, as well as the antiviral drug remdesivir.

Legand said WHO continues to strengthen health services in affected areas. “We can scale up optimized intensive care and support communities in identifying symptoms earlier,” Legand said.

She added that, based on previous outbreaks, the fatality rate of the Bundibugyo strain ranges between 30 and 50 percent. WHO continues to work closely with authorities in the DRC and Uganda amid a complex humanitarian crisis, including armed conflict and limited access to health facilities in Ituri Province.