The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) today launched a joint continental preparedness and response plan for the ongoing Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The plan aims to raise US$518 million to help African countries, together with partners, prepare for, rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks.
The six-month plan, which runs from June to November 2026, will bring together governments, partners and communities under a unified ‘One Response’ approach to strengthen the response to the outbreak, including emergency coordination, disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, community engagement, research, logistics and support for essential health services.
The plan complements national response plans launched by the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The only way to overcome this outbreak is through close partnership, under the leadership of affected countries, and working together in a coordinated effort based on the simple principle of one plan, one budget, one team. Containing Ebola depends on political commitment, sustained funding, and community trust and engagement. This plan puts communities at the heart of the plan, because without community participation, contact tracing would stall, safe treatment would be delayed, and transmission would continue. ”
AS Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
“Ebola is progressing rapidly. Africa must act faster. This joint plan provides a clear path for the continent to act with speed and cohesion to save lives, support affected countries, and protect neighboring communities. Together with member states, WHO, and partners, Africa CDC is turning commitment into action and resources into response to communities at risk,” said Dr. Jean Caseya, Director-General of Africa CDC.
The plan also focuses on protecting vulnerable populations, strengthening cross-border cooperation and supporting countries to respond quickly to new cases. At present, there is no vaccine or treatment specifically approved for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, and the plan aims to strengthen health systems and ensure resilience as countries respond to acute health emergencies.
Implementation of preparedness and response activities is already underway across affected and at-risk countries. Additionally, ten priority countries have strengthened critical measures to strengthen public health emergency preparedness and ensure early detection and rapid response.
The plan emphasizes the need to maintain support for other ongoing health emergencies, such as MPO, cholera and measles, to prevent disruption of critical response activities and safeguard progress towards stronger and more resilient health systems.
This coordinated effort comes as response efforts accelerate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where authorities, with support from the Africa CDC, WHO and partners, are stepping up efforts to contain the spread of the virus and end the outbreak.
Africa CDC and WHO urge member states to strengthen testing and public health measures at points of entry and strengthen cross-border coordination and solidarity to support timely, effective and evidence-based responses to outbreaks.
Through joint preparedness and response planning, the continent is mobilizing collective expertise and resources to strengthen the response, control the outbreak, and act as one to protect communities across the region. Successful implementation will require strong political commitment, sustained investment and close collaboration between governments, health professionals, communities and partners.
The plan also provides a pathway to broadly strengthen Africa’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to future health threats, while protecting lives and livelihoods, drawing on lessons learned from past Ebola outbreaks and recent public health emergencies.
sauce:
world health organization
