UAE confirms no ebola cases as authorities maintain highest health preparedness
International coordination remains ongoing as outbreak response expands
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed that no cases of Ebola have been detected within the country, while health authorities continue to maintain advanced levels of preparedness and disease surveillance amid an ongoing outbreak affecting parts of Central and East Africa.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said relevant authorities remain vigilant and are closely monitoring developments in coordination with international health bodies.
The reassurance comes after a traveller who had visited the UAE was later diagnosed with Ebola several days after leaving the country and arriving in Uganda. According to the ministry, the individual did not visit any healthcare facility during their stay in the UAE.
Precautionary measures
MoHAP stated that the UAE's established preparedness and surveillance framework was activated immediately in line with national protocols and recognised international standards. Authorities carried out risk assessments, contact tracing and other approved precautionary procedures as part of the country's comprehensive public health response.
No Ebola Cases Detected in the UAE#MoHAP_UAE pic.twitter.com/0Rq5xfWVfP
— وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع - MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) June 3, 2026
The ministry stressed that no Ebola infections have been recorded in the UAE and affirmed that health authorities continue to operate at a high level of readiness. Officials are maintaining close coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international health agencies to monitor developments and respond swiftly to any emerging risks.
The ministry also urged members of the public to avoid sharing rumours or information from unverified sources, emphasising that updates should only be obtained through official channels.
Global response
The UAE's update comes as the WHO reported progress in responding to a growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while acknowledging that significant challenges remain.
Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said global health teams were beginning to catch up with the outbreak, which currently stands at 344 confirmed cases and 60 confirmed deaths in the DRC.
The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and has spread across the border into Uganda, where 15 confirmed cases, including one death, have been reported.
Health officials said testing capacity has improved considerably in recent weeks. Hundreds of cases initially suspected to be Ebola have since been ruled out following expanded laboratory screening. WHO officials noted that commonly used Ebola tests do not detect the Bundibugyo strain, creating an earlier testing backlog.
According to Abdirahman Mahamud, WHO Director of Health Emergency Alert and Response Operations, laboratories have conducted 1,445 tests, clearing almost all previously accumulated samples awaiting analysis. However, 116 suspected cases are still awaiting testing.
Funding challenge
WHO teams are also investigating 220 suspected deaths to determine whether Ebola may have been responsible. Officials reported encouraging signs in patient outcomes, with six recoveries recorded in the DRC and two in Uganda, highlighting the importance of rapid diagnosis and access to medical care.
Despite these developments, health authorities continue to face difficulties in expanding testing operations and tracing contacts linked to confirmed infections. WHO said only about 45 per cent of identified contacts have been successfully followed up, well below the more than 90 per cent level considered necessary to stay ahead of transmission.
Tedros noted that investigations suggest the outbreak may have begun as early as January, although assessments are continuing. He stressed that the immediate priority remains containing the spread of the virus and strengthening surveillance efforts.
The WHO estimates that at least $115 million will be required over the next three months to support the emergency response. The organisation's emergencies chief, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said around 35 per cent of that funding has been secured so far, with additional support expected through a broader response and fundraising initiative involving the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the governments of the DRC and Uganda.