Three Red Cross volunteers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died after contracting Ebola in March during body management activities, the organization announced Saturday (23). The workers — Alikana Udumusi Augustin, Sezabo Katanabo and Ajiko Chandiru Viviane — were working in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak that has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency of international concern. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Acredita-se que Alikana Udumusi Augustin, Sezabo Katanabo e Ajiko Chandiru Viviane contraíram o vírus ebola enquanto trabalhavam, realizando atividades de manejo de corpos em 27 de março"
The deaths occurred on staggered dates: one on May 5 and the other two on May 15 and 16, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The volunteers contracted the virus while performing body management activities on March 27, as part of a humanitarian mission unrelated to Ebola. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"um deles morreu em 5 de maio e os outros dois em 15 e 16 de maio, respectivamente"
"atividades de manejo de corpos em 27 de março, como parte de uma missão humanitária não relacionada ao ebola"
WHO raised the DRC's national risk level from 'high' to 'very high' on Friday (23), maintaining regional risk as 'high' and global as 'low'. Organization data confirms 82 cases and seven deaths in DRC, but Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned there are nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths in the country. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"The UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday raised the national risk assessment for DRC to 'very high' - although the global risk remains 'low'. WHO raises Ebola risk in DRC to 'very high'; regional risk remains 'high' and global risk 'low'"
"Dados da OMS mostram que, até o momento, 82 casos de ebola foram confirmados na RDC, além de sete mortes."
Uganda reported three new confirmed cases on Saturday, bringing the total to five — including a health worker, a driver and a Congolese woman. WHO had declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, following confirmed cases in Kampala on May 15 and 16. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A Uganda reportou neste sábado três novos casos confirmados de ebola, elevando o total no país para cinco. Entre os infectados estão um profissional de saúde, um motorista e uma mulher congolesa."
"In addition, two laboratory confirmed cases (including one death) with no apparent link to each other have been reported in Kampala, Uganda, within 24 hours of each other, on 15 and 16 May 2026, among two individuals travelling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
WHO declared public health emergency of international concern on May 17, 2026
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
Security incident at Ituri hospital with burning of tents and medical supplies on Thursday (21)
Conflicting versions (1)
Total confirmed cases in Uganda
-
How were Red Cross volunteers exposed to the virus during non-Ebola-related activities?
Why it's still unknown: The IFRC did not detail the specific circumstances of exposure during body management activities on March 27
-
What is the real extent of the outbreak considering the difference between confirmed and suspected cases?
Why it's still unknown: WHO acknowledges nearly 750 suspected cases against only 82 confirmed, suggesting massive underreporting
-
What specific measures are being taken to contain cross-border spread?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention contact monitoring but do not detail border protocols between DRC and Uganda
Did not cover: O Liberal