Kampala: The Ugandan Health Ministry reported three new cases of Ebola virus on Saturday, bringing the tally of the confirmed cases to five. This comes amid the efforts the Ugandan authorities are ramping up to monitor those who might have contracted the virus and contain the outbreak accordingly.

According to Qatar News Agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the outbreak of this virus, which is caused by the Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This development raises the national risk level to "very high" amid ongoing transmission, as the outbreak has resulted in almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected mortalities arising from Ebola.

The organization explained that delays in monitoring the cases, shortages of vaccines, specialized treatments, and the proliferation of armed conflicts, as well as rising population mobility rates, are considered factors that make the DRC specifically an imperiled region.