Health authorities reported updated figures regarding the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on June 1. The country’s Health Minister Roger Kamba stated that confirmed cases had reached 343, following coordination meetings on response operations.
Five patients infected with the Ebola Bundibugyo virus have recovered in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province in northeastern DRC, health authorities announced on June 1. Four of the recovered patients, all medical workers, were discharged from an Ebola treatment center after testing negative twice for the virus.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited Bunia for the inauguration of a new Ebola treatment center, emphasizing the importance of community trust in outbreak response efforts.
The East African Community announced it would convene an extraordinary virtual meeting of health ministers on June 1-2 to coordinate regional response measures. The regional bloc noted that it is deploying mobile laboratories at strategic border points and activating rapid response teams.
Health officials in Kenya reported that tests on individuals with recent travel history to affected areas had returned negative, while emphasizing continued surveillance and preparedness measures.