Africa CDC, WHO Launch $518m Ebola Response Plan For Outbreak Control

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a joint continental preparedness and response plan aimed at containing the ongoing Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.

In a statement issued on Friday, both organisations said the six-month plan seeks to mobilise $518 million to strengthen preparedness, early detection, and rapid response systems across affected and at-risk African countries.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said the initiative, which runs from June to November, brings together governments, partners, and communities under a unified “One Response” framework to enhance coordination and outbreak control.

“It includes emergency coordination and disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, community engagement, research, logistics and support for essential health services,” Ghebreyesus said.

He noted that the plan complements national response efforts already activated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where authorities are intensifying containment measures with support from Africa CDC, WHO, and other partners.

According to him, implementation is already underway in affected and high-risk countries, with priority focus on 10 states identified for early detection and rapid response.

Africa CDC Director-General, Dr Jean Kaseya, stressed the urgency of collective action, warning that delays could worsen transmission across borders.

“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 explained that the strategy places communities at the centre of the response, emphasising trust, engagement, and participation as critical tools for effective contact tracing and safe care practices.

Kaseya added that the plan also prioritises protection for vulnerable groups, stronger cross-border surveillance, and rapid detection of new cases.

He noted that, with no licensed vaccines or therapeutics currently approved for the Bundibugyo strain, the response focuses heavily on strengthening health systems and emergency readiness.

The plan also integrates responses to other ongoing health threats, including mpox, cholera, and measles, to prevent disruptions to essential health services.

Both organisations urged member states to strengthen screening at points of entry and enhance cross-border coordination to reduce the risk of further spread.

They said the initiative draws lessons from previous Ebola outbreaks and is designed not only for immediate containment but also to build long-term capacity for future health emergencies across the continent.