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Ebola cases ‘increased rapidly’ since late May, WHO says

Medical workers wear protective equipment to disinfect equipment used to treat an Ebola patient, who recovered and was released this week, at the Heal Africa Hospital on June 4, 2026 in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. (Daniel Buuma/Getty Images)

(GENEVA) — The number of Ebola infections and deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda has “increased rapidly” since late May, the World Health Organization said Monday.

Since the last update from the WHO on May 29, an additional 390 confirmed cases including 74 confirmed deaths were reported. The increase in cases — more than tripling the prior confirmed count — is in part due to better testing and diagnosis abilities, the WHO said.

Cases continue to be reported in various parts of the DRC across 25 health zones, with some infections hundreds of miles away from the epicenter of the outbreak in the Ituri province.

The outbreak remains concentrated there.

As of June 6, there are a total of 515 confirmed cases and 91 deaths in the DRC. So far, 12 patients have recommended recovered there.

Over 5,000 people have been identified as contacts due to exposure from someone who was infected. Contact tracing efforts continue to be underway.

At least 16 of the infections reported so far were identified in health care workers.

Uganda has 19 confirmed cases as of June 6, an increase of 10 since the last update on May 29.

While the WHO assesses the risk of transmission in the Congo as “very high” and “high” in bordering countries, the risk to the rest of Africa and the world is “low.”

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Turnover of Senate-confirmed officials in Trump’s second term outpaces all 21st century administrations

(CNN) — More Senate-confirmed officials have left President Donald Trump’s second administration in its first 18 months than they have during the same period in other 21st century administrations, according to a nonpartisan organization’s review of the turnover published Wednesday.The review from Partnership for Public Service, a group that focuses on improving the federal government, found that as of Monday, 27 Senate-confirmed officials in Cabinet departments have departed the administration — a figure that outpaces the 11 departures in the first 18 months of Trump’s first administration, which was known for its turnover.The departures impacted 13 departments and included three Cabinet secretaries: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Other high-profile officials that have left include Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez.The review also found that the administration is slow to fill the vacancies with Trump sending fewer nominations to the Senate than even his first term. It does not include US attorneys, US marshals or ambassadors who have left or nominations for those positions.“Turnover on this scale does not just thin the government’s leadership ranks—it concentrates power in the president,” Chris Piper of the Partnership for Public Service wrote in a blog post. “Left unaddressed, more of the government will be led by officials installed without the Senate’s constitutionally required advice and consent, and it will be less able to do the work Americans depend on.”White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said in a statement to CNN, “President Trump has the most talented Cabinet in American history who work every day to implement his common sense, America First agenda. In just over one year, the President and his Cabinet have made our country greater than ever before with the most secure border in history, the largest middle-class tax cut ever, and the lowest murder rate since 1900. The President and his entire administration will continue to tirelessly implement the Trump agenda and achieve tremendous results for the American people.”While every president has appointed officials in “acting” capacity, which temporarily avoids the Senate confirmation process, Trump has done so more frequently and openly, CNN has previously reported.During his first term, Trump said, “Acting gives you much greater flexibility. A lot easier to do things.”The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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