The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have unveiled a joint continental preparedness and response plan aimed at containing the ongoing Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo virus strain.
The six-month initiative, scheduled to run from June to November 2026, seeks to mobilise $518 million to help African countries strengthen preparedness, improve early detection systems and enhance rapid response capabilities against the disease.
Built around a unified “One Response” framework, the strategy brings together governments, development partners and local communities to reinforce key areas of outbreak management, including emergency coordination, disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, community engagement, research, logistics and the continuity of essential health services.
The continental response plan complements national strategies already launched by the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where efforts are underway to curb the spread of the virus.
Speaking on the initiative, WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stressed that effective coordination among affected countries and partners would be critical to ending the outbreak.
“The only way to beat this outbreak is through close partnership, working together under the leadership of the affected countries in one coordinated effort, guided by a simple principle: one plan, one budget, one team,” he said.
Tedros added that political commitment, sustainable financing and active community participation remain essential to containing Ebola.
“Containing Ebola depends on political commitment, sustained financing, and the trust and engagement of communities. This plan places communities at the centre because without their participation, contact tracing falters, safe care is delayed and transmission continues,” he noted.
Also speaking, Director-General of Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, called for urgent action to prevent further spread of the disease across the continent.
“Ebola moves fast. Africa must move faster. This joint plan gives the continent a clear path to act with speed and unity: to save lives, support the affected countries and protect neighbouring communities,” Kaseya said.
He added that Africa CDC, in collaboration with WHO, member states and development partners, is working to transform commitments into concrete actions and ensure resources reach communities most at risk.
Beyond immediate outbreak containment, the plan prioritises the protection of vulnerable populations, stronger cross-border collaboration and the deployment of rapid response mechanisms for emerging cases. Officials said countries would pool expertise, resources and technical capacity to strengthen regional preparedness and protect communities from further transmission.
The strategy also incorporates lessons learned from previous Ebola outbreaks and other public health emergencies, with the goal of strengthening Africa’s long-term ability to prevent, detect and respond to future health threats while safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
With no licensed vaccines or therapeutics currently approved specifically for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, health authorities say the plan places significant emphasis on strengthening healthcare systems to ensure resilience during public health emergencies.
Preparedness and response activities are already underway in affected and high-risk countries, while 10 priority nations have intensified surveillance, emergency preparedness and rapid response measures.
The initiative further underscores the importance of sustaining efforts against other major health threats, including mpox, cholera and measles. Health leaders warned that continued support for existing response programmes is vital to preserving public health gains across the continent.
The coordinated response comes as authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, supported by Africa CDC, WHO and other partners, continue to scale up operations aimed at halting transmission and bringing the outbreak under control.
Member States have also been urged to strengthen screening and other public health measures at points of entry, while enhancing cross-border coordination and regional solidarity to ensure a timely, effective and evidence-based response to the outbreak.
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