The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided an update June 18 on the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), calling it a serious and active public health concern.
What’s happening:
- The outbreak is now approaching 1,000 confirmed cases across multiple regions in the DRC, with additional cases reported in Uganda.
- It’s the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record in the DRC.
- Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and is not airborne.
Response efforts:
- The CDC has deployed more than 125 staff to support case identification, contact tracing, laboratory testing, and infection prevention.
- Teams are working with local ministries of health and international partners to slow transmission and strengthen response capacity.
US outlook:
- The CDC says the risk to the United States remains low due to existing public health measures.
- Domestic readiness efforts are ongoing in case of a potential case.
- The CDC is also coordinating broader public health preparedness tied to large international events, including the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
Big picture: While the outbreak requires a strong international response, officials say coordinated efforts and early intervention remain critical to limiting further spread.