Uganda Confirms Local Ebola Transmission — Case Count Jumps to 15 with 7 Cases from Within-Country Chains

On 2 June 2026, Uganda's Ministry of Health confirmed a significant epidemiological escalation: Uganda's total BDBV confirmed case count reached 15 — up from 9 on June 1 — with at least 7 of the 15 cases now attributed to local transmission chains rather than direct DRC travel links. At least 4 cases retained clear DRC travel or DRC-contact links; the transmission origin of the remaining cases was under investigation. Eight of the 15 cases were reported in Kampala, Uganda's capital of over 3 million people, raising alarm about potential sustained urban spread. Uganda's one confirmed death remained at 1. The emergence of local secondary transmission chains within Uganda represented the first instance of clear community spread inside the country — a significant epidemiological milestone requiring intensified contact-tracing and ring vaccination deployment. The Uganda Ministry of Health confirmed 147+ contacts under 21-day surveillance monitoring in Kampala alongside a surge of community health workers deployed to trace the contacts of the six newly confirmed cases. The 4-week DRC border closure, announced May 28 and now in its sixth day, remained in force. Uganda's Ministry of Health also confirmed ring vaccination using rVSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo) had been suspended for BDBV efficacy assessment per the May 28 WHO expert panel ruling, complicating prophylaxis options for exposed contacts. WHO reiterated its position that enhanced health screening is epidemiologically superior to blanket border closures, while acknowledging Uganda's sovereign rights.