In brief
On Oct. 29, 2026, African health ministers met virtually with Africa CDC and WHO to urge stronger readiness against an Ebola outbreak now exceeding 10,170 cases in four countries. Africa CDC DG Jean Kaseya highlighted the critical gaps in medical supplies and cross‑border surveillance, while WHO’s message stressed the outbreak’s multi‑focal nature. Kenya’s Patrick Amoth noted workforce infections and the need for licensed therapeutics, and WHO later discussed a 42‑day monitoring period before Nigeria can be declared Ebola‑free.
On Oct. 29, 2026, African health ministers convened a virtual emergency meeting with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the rapidly expanding Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak that has surpassed 10,170 confirmed cases across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Africa CDC Director‑General Jean Kaseya said the outbreak had grown from a national crisis into a continental health security test, stressing that the main priority “to stop Ebola” is threatened by insecurity, complex humanitarian situations, a lack of medical countermeasures, and limited funding.
the main priority today in our continent is to stop Ebola
WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking on behalf of the organization, described the situation as “an extremely serious and difficult outbreak” and warned that “this outbreak in the DRC is not a single outbreak in a single place. It is many outbreaks across a vast and complex area, requiring a sustained response everywhere at the same time.”
we are still facing an extremely serious and difficult outbreak.
this outbreak in the DRC is not a single outbreak in a single place. it is many outbreaks across a vast and complex area, requiring a sustained response everywhere at the same time.
In a separate presentation, Patrick Amoth, Director‑General for health at Kenya’s Ministry of Health, highlighted gaps including health‑workforce infections, cross‑border spread that bypasses surveillance and contact tracing, and the continent’s reliance on uncertain donated medicines amid a lack of licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics.
Health workforce infections, the cross‑border spread of cases bypassing surveillance and contact tracing, and Africa’s reliance on uncertain donated medicines amid a lack of licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics are critical gaps.
Later developments noted by WHO indicate that Nigeria will need to complete a 42‑day monitoring period before it can be officially declared free of Ebola.
