Africa CDC leads cross border Ebola talks as cases near 600

Friday 22 May 2026 - 11:16

By: Dakir Madiha

Africa CDC leads cross border Ebola talks as cases near 600

The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has convened high level cross border discussions as Ebola cases in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo approach 600 suspected infections, prompting a rapid scale up of regional coordination and emergency health operations.

The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province, with spillover risk extending into neighbouring Uganda and South Sudan. Health authorities reported nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths, including 51 laboratory confirmed infections caused by the Bundibugyo strain, a form of Ebola for which no licensed vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.

International agencies have expanded their emergency response across the affected region. The World Health Organization has delivered more than 11.5 tonnes of medical supplies from distribution hubs in Kinshasa, Dakar and Nairobi to support frontline health workers in the northeast of the country. Additional consignments have reached Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, to reinforce treatment capacity, infection control and surveillance systems.

The United Nations Children’s Fund has activated its highest emergency classification for the crisis and mobilised nearly 50 tonnes of prevention and control materials. These include protective equipment, disinfectants, soap and water purification supplies, alongside rapid response teams focused on protecting children and vulnerable communities as transmission risks rise.

The World Food Programme has expanded its logistical operations to sustain humanitarian access in remote and insecure areas of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Using United Nations humanitarian air services, it continues to move personnel and supplies into isolated locations. The agency has also highlighted the financial pressure on its operations, with more than 214 million dollars required for regional support, including over 10 million dollars dedicated specifically to Ebola response activities.

Cross border coordination has intensified following a high level meeting in Kampala bringing together health officials from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. Uganda has confirmed cases linked to cross border movement from Congo, underscoring the regional nature of the outbreak and the need for shared surveillance and response mechanisms.

The crisis is unfolding alongside a severe food security emergency in Ituri, where 1.7 million people face critical levels of hunger, while 26.5 million people across the country experience acute food insecurity. Humanitarian pressure is increasing as health and nutrition systems struggle to respond simultaneously.