Ebola outbreak nears 500 cases in Central Africa as WHO warns epidemic is accelerating

The Ebola outbreak spreading across Central Africa has approached the 500-case mark, according to figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Saturday, heightening fears about the growing scale of the epidemic.

In its latest assessment, the WHO reported 452 confirmed cases and 82 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where authorities officially declared the outbreak three weeks ago.

Across the border in Uganda, health officials have confirmed 19 infections and two fatalities.

The combined total of 471 confirmed cases and 84 deaths represents a significant jump from the previous day, with an additional 100 cases and 20 deaths recorded within 24 hours, based on data provided by the governments of both countries.

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The surge comes as international health agencies warn that the outbreak, already designated a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO, could expand dramatically if not brought under control.

US health officials have cautioned that projections show the epidemic could eventually reach a scale comparable to the devastating 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola crisis, which infected more than 28,000 people and claimed over 11,000 lives.

"That scale is possible," said Jason Asher, director of CDC's Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, during a press briefing.

Ebola, which is spread through close contact and bodily fluids, has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years.

The current outbreak was declared on May 15 in northeastern DR Congo, but the virus is believed to have spread under the radar for some time beforehand.

There are no approved vaccines or treatments for the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola behind the outbreak.

The WHO and the African CDC on Friday launched a $518-million plan to battle the outbreak over the next six months, focusing among other things on boosting surveillance, laboratory testing and infection prevention.

"The outbreak is moving fast, and we are still playing catch-up," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.

"We need to stop the outbreak where it is, support countries that are responding today, and ensure that neighbouring countries are ready to detect and act quickly if cases appear," he said.

"This is a serious outbreak and its one we know how to stop but we need to move fast and together."

With inputs from agencies