Africa CDC and WHO Launch $518 Million Plan to Tackle Ebola Outbreak

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that success will depend on strong cooperation among all stakeholders.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a continent-wide preparedness and response plan to combat the ongoing Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus.

The six-month initiative, running from June to November 2026, seeks to mobilize US$518 million to help African countries strengthen preparedness, improve disease detection and support rapid response efforts. The plan brings together governments, health agencies, development partners and local communities under a unified "One Response" framework designed to coordinate actions across the continent.

Health officials say the strategy comes at a critical time as countries work to contain the outbreak while maintaining essential health services and responding to other public health challenges. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that success will depend on strong cooperation among all stakeholders. He said the response is built around a common approach based on one plan, one budget and one team, with affected countries leading the effort.

Communities Placed at the Centre of Ebola Response

The new plan covers a wide range of response activities, including emergency coordination, disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, logistics and research. A major focus is community engagement. Health authorities believe that local participation is essential for effective contact tracing, early treatment and reducing virus transmission. Past Ebola outbreaks have shown that public trust and cooperation often determine how quickly an outbreak can be brought under control.

Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said the continent must respond faster than the virus spreads and described the plan as a roadmap for coordinated action that will help save lives, support affected countries, and protect neighbouring communities from further transmission. The initiative also places special attention on vulnerable populations and aims to strengthen collaboration between countries sharing borders. Faster information sharing and coordinated action are expected to improve the ability of health authorities to detect and respond to new cases before they spread widely.

Strengthening Health Systems Beyond the Current Crisis

The challenge health authorities face is the absence of licensed vaccines or treatments specifically approved for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. This has increased the importance of surveillance, rapid diagnosis, infection control measures and strong healthcare systems. Preparedness and response activities are already underway in affected and at-risk countries. In ten priority countries, additional measures are being introduced to improve emergency preparedness, strengthen monitoring systems and ensure rapid intervention when new cases emerge. Authorities are working to ensure that ongoing responses to mpox, cholera and measles remain fully supported, preventing disruptions that could weaken public health systems.

Officials are urging African governments to strengthen health screening measures at points of entry, improve cross-border coordination and maintain solidarity in the collective fight against the disease. Beyond the immediate outbreak, the initiative is expected to leave a lasting impact by strengthening Africa's ability to prevent, detect and respond to future health threats. Drawing on lessons from previous Ebola outbreaks and other public health emergencies, the plan aims to build stronger and more resilient health systems capable of protecting both lives and livelihoods.