The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of East Africa as an international health emergency, as new cases and deaths continue to emerge in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Uganda confirmed three additional Ebola cases on Saturday, bringing the country’s total confirmed infections to five since the outbreak was first detected on May 15.

One death has been recorded in Uganda so far, while all newly identified patients, including a Ugandan driver, a health worker, and a Congolese woman, are currently alive and receiving care.

In the DRC, the situation remains more severe, with 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths, alongside hundreds of suspected infections and deaths still under investigation.

The outbreak is mainly concentrated in the conflict-affected eastern region, including Ituri and South Kivu provinces, where insecurity and weak health infrastructure are making containment efforts difficult.The Red Cross also reported the deaths of three volunteers in Ituri, who were unknowingly exposed to the virus during humanitarian activities.

Health authorities, including the Africa CDC, have warned that at least 10 African countries are at risk of spread, including Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia.Officials say high population movement and insecurity are major drivers of transmission across borders.The WHO has raised the regional risk level to “very high” while maintaining that global risk remains low.

Experts note that the outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments, making containment more challenging.Governments in the region are increasing surveillance and border controls as fears grow of further spread across Central and East Africa.