Health Ministry Issues Official Update on Regional Ebola Situation

(JUBA) – South Sudan remains at high risk of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak due to increasing cross border movement and the continuing spread of the virus in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, the Ministry of Health has warned in a press statement.

The Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, Hon. Dr. Oromo Francis Seriano, issued the update on 3 July 2026. He had previously spoken to reporters during a press briefing in Juba on Friday, 26 June 2026.

He said the risk of an outbreak in South Sudan remains relatively high because of transit populations and shared borders with the DRC and Uganda.

“Currently, as we speak, all Ebola Virus Disease preparedness and response mechanisms are ongoing, so they continue to be activated,” Dr. Oromo Francis said.

The warning comes as the DRC continues to battle an Ebola outbreak that was officially declared on 15 May 2026. The outbreak was later confirmed to be caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

As of 29 June 2026, the DRC had reported 1,333 confirmed EVD cases and 399 confirmed EVD deaths. Uganda had recorded 20 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths. Infections in Uganda included imported cases and secondary transmission among contacts and healthcare workers.

In the DRC, the outbreak remains centred in Ituri Province. However, cases have also been confirmed in other provinces. In Uganda, reported cases remain linked to transmission originating in the DRC.

Despite the heightened regional threat, South Sudan has so far detected no Ebola infections. Dr. Oromo Francis said all eight suspected samples tested in the country have returned negative results.

Two of the samples were analysed at the laboratory in Nimule, a major border crossing with Uganda. Six were processed at the National Public Health Laboratory in Juba.

The Undersecretary said the Ministry of Health has intensified nationwide Ebola preparedness. Measures include strengthening Infectious Disease Units (IDUs), training frontline health workers, enhancing laboratory capacity, pre positioning essential medical supplies and expanding public awareness campaigns to ensure rapid detection and response to any imported case.

The Ministry is working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations agencies, neighbouring countries and other partners to strengthen Ebola preparedness and cross border surveillance. Health authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspected Ebola cases promptly to help prevent an outbreak.

The Ministry of Health press statement further noted that all EVD preparedness and response mechanisms are ongoing to strengthen health system readiness.

These include the rehabilitation of Infectious Disease Units, capacity building for service providers and frontline staff, provision of essential supplies, laboratory readiness and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).