Ebola Cases Reach 363 in DRC With 62 Deaths Confirmed

Health authorities have confirmed 363 Ebola cases and 62 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of June 3. Fifteen cases and one death have been recorded in neighboring Uganda. The outbreak has expanded to Mambasa, a health zone more than 160 kilometers south of the previous concentration of cases in Ituri province. Officials said the geographic spread indicates continued transmission.

Contact tracing covers about 44 percent of identified contacts in Ituri province. Officials stated the target is 90 percent coverage. The World Health Organization ruled out hundreds of suspected cases after investigation. A spokesperson said the drop from earlier counts occurred because many individuals had other illnesses or fevers.

Officials and specialists noted that contact tracing remains limited and that some residents distrust authorities or deny infection. They added that migrant populations near a gold mine have complicated efforts to locate contacts. The incubation period for Ebola reaches 21 days. Officials said the full trajectory of the outbreak cannot yet be determined.