The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned that Africa is not yet winning the battle against Ebola, as the ongoing outbreak has surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases and claimed nearly 5,000 lives.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya issued the warning during an extraordinary meeting of African health ministers held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, to discuss the worsening outbreak and strengthen a coordinated continental response.
According to figures published by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak had recorded 10,305 confirmed cases and 4,996 confirmed deaths as of October 28. The figures cover the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and France.
Speaking about the scale of the crisis, Kaseya said the available figures showed that the continent had yet to bring the outbreak under control.
“I have worked on Ebola outbreaks for more than 30 years. I have never stopped feeling the weight of each life lost,” he said, according to a report by Premium Times.
He added that the ministers had agreed to strengthen preparedness in every African country, improve cooperation across borders and maintain open borders while intensifying disease surveillance.
The warning comes as health authorities continue efforts to contain the outbreak, which has spread beyond its original centre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
## DRC Accounts for Majority of Cases and Deaths
The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for the overwhelming majority of confirmed infections and deaths.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus. It was declared in the DRC in May 2026 and has affected multiple provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele and Haut-Uele.
As of October 28, the US CDC reported 10,274 confirmed cases and 4,992 deaths in the DRC alone.
The outbreak has expanded rapidly, becoming the second-largest Ebola outbreak recorded globally, behind the 2014–2016 West African epidemic.
Health experts have expressed concern about the pace of transmission. The Associated Press reported that weekly infections had remained at approximately 400 to 500 cases, rather than declining consistently. The report also noted that fewer than one-quarter of new patients were previously identified as contacts, raising concerns about undetected transmission within affected communities.
The situation is being complicated by limited access to healthcare, insecurity in affected areas, shortages of protective equipment and difficulties tracing people who may have been exposed to the virus.
## Ebola Spreads Beyond the DRC
The outbreak has also resulted in confirmed cases in other countries, raising concerns about the ability of national health systems to detect and respond to imported infections.
Kenya recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths as of October 28, while Uganda reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, alongside one probable case and one probable death.
France also recorded one imported case, while Nigeria confirmed its first case associated with the outbreak on October 20.
According to the US CDC, Nigeria had recorded one confirmed case and no deaths as of October 28.
The Nigerian case involved a traveller with a history of travel to Uganda who tested positive for the virus. The patient was subsequently evacuated to Switzerland for medical care.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported that 54 contacts linked to the case had been identified and were under follow-up as of October 26.
Authorities are continuing to investigate how the virus reached Nigeria. Health officials have said that genomic sequencing identified a close relationship between the virus detected in Nigeria and a strain identified in Kenya. However, this finding alone does not establish a direct epidemiological link between Nigeria’s case and Kenya’s initial case.
The development has reinforced concerns about the risks associated with regional travel and the importance of coordinated surveillance across African countries.
## Africa CDC Calls for Stronger Continental Cooperation
Kaseya said the response must extend beyond countries where infections have already been confirmed.
The African health ministers who attended the emergency meeting agreed to prepare their respective countries for possible cases, strengthen cross-border coordination and improve surveillance.
The objective is to ensure that countries can detect suspected infections quickly, isolate patients when necessary and prevent further transmission.
Africa CDC has stressed that preparedness should not be limited to countries currently experiencing active outbreaks. Countries with no confirmed cases must also strengthen their emergency response systems and ensure that health workers understand how to identify and manage suspected infections.
The World Health Organisation has also advised against imposing restrictions on travel or trade with affected countries, while emphasising the need for continued surveillance and preparedness.
The approach seeks to protect public health without unnecessarily disrupting trade, travel and economic activities across the continent.
## Insecurity and Misinformation Complicate Response
Health authorities face several challenges in controlling the outbreak, particularly in parts of the DRC where insecurity and limited health infrastructure have disrupted response operations.
Armed conflict can prevent health workers from reaching affected communities, delay the delivery of medical supplies and make contact tracing more difficult.
Misinformation and a lack of public trust can also discourage people from reporting symptoms, seeking medical care or cooperating with health teams.
The US CDC has identified limited access to diagnostic services, shortages of infection-prevention supplies, population movement and violence against healthcare workers as factors complicating the response.
These challenges mean that medical interventions alone may not be sufficient. Community engagement, accurate public information and cooperation between health authorities and local leaders remain important parts of the containment strategy.
## Lessons From Previous Ebola Outbreaks
Kaseya also recalled the devastating effects of the 2014–2016 West African Ebola outbreak, which caused thousands of deaths and significant economic and social disruption.
He noted that the previous epidemic resulted in millions of children missing school, thousands losing their parents and billions of dollars in lost economic output.
The experience, he said, demonstrates the cost of allowing an outbreak to spread without effective containment.
Africa CDC is therefore urging countries to invest in surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency preparedness and stronger healthcare systems.
The current outbreak also highlights the need for sustained international support and research into medical countermeasures against the Bundibugyo virus.
## What This Means for Nigeria
For Nigeria, the confirmation of an imported case underscores the importance of maintaining strong disease surveillance at airports, other points of entry and healthcare facilities.
Health authorities need to continue monitoring identified contacts, investigate suspected infections promptly and ensure that healthcare workers have the equipment and training required to protect themselves and their patients.
Members of the public should rely on official health advisories and promptly seek medical attention if they develop symptoms after possible exposure to Ebola. They should also avoid direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of suspected or confirmed cases and follow instructions from trained health professionals.
The confirmation of one case does not, by itself, mean that Nigeria is experiencing widespread community transmission. However, the situation requires vigilance because imported infections can lead to further transmission if they are not detected and managed promptly.
## Africa Faces a Critical Test
The latest figures present a serious challenge for Africa’s public health authorities. Although some affected areas have recorded improvements, the outbreak has not been brought under consistent control across all affected locations.
Africa CDC’s warning is therefore a call for countries to strengthen preparedness, share information and maintain coordinated efforts until transmission is interrupted.
As the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, the effectiveness of the continental response will depend on early detection, reliable data, community cooperation and sustained support for affected health systems.
For Nigeria and other African countries, the priority remains clear: strengthen preparedness, protect healthcare workers, monitor possible exposures and act quickly to prevent further spread.
Source: Africa CDC, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Premium Times and Associated Press.
