Africa CDC Urges Heightened Ebola Preparedness as Cases Rise in Congo

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 11, 2026

The Africa CDC has called on countries to enhance Ebola preparedness as the outbreak in the DRC reaches 8,750 cases and spreads to Kenya, exemplifying the virus's cross-border threat. Concurrently, Ghana and Lesotho face yellow fever and measles outbreaks respectively, prompting emergency responses to limit further transmission and protect vulnerable populations.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has urged countries across the region to strengthen Ebola preparedness measures as the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to expand. As of October 10, the number of confirmed Ebola cases has reached 8,750, accompanied by a rising death toll.

During an online press briefing, Africa CDC official Wessam Mankoula highlighted the recent detection of Bundibugyo Ebola virus in Kenya, marking a concerning cross-border spread. The infected individual, a 40-year-old Kenyan citizen who had lived in the DRC for seven years, died in a Nairobi hospital on Monday. He had moved through the DRC, Uganda, and Kenya prior to testing positive, underscoring the virus’s capacity to traverse national borders and pose a broader regional health threat.

Kenyan health authorities have since activated enhanced disease surveillance and are conducting thorough contact tracing in response to the imported case. Mankoula praised Kenya’s preparedness efforts, noting that prior investments in regional health infrastructure enabled a swift response. He emphasized the need for vigilance and solidarity instead of border closures, stating, “Ebola is crossing another border. However, at the Africa CDC, we are calling for vigilance, not banning.”

In addition to Ebola, other viral outbreaks are generating concern in parts of Africa. Ghana’s Ministry of Health confirmed a yellow fever outbreak in the Upper West Region, reporting three fatal cases from the Wa West and Sissala West districts. Following the detection, national and regional health emergency operations centers have been activated. Rapid response teams have been deployed to affected communities to support case finding, surveillance, and risk communication. Plans are underway to conduct emergency vaccination campaigns later this month in Wa West, Sissala West, and Sissala East districts.

Meanwhile, Lesotho is grappling with a confirmed measles outbreak in its northern districts of Butha-Buthe and Leribe. Health authorities reported 12 confirmed and 20 suspected cases as of September 30. The outbreak was initially detected on September 23 at Dr. Strong Thabo Makenete Hospital in Butha-Buthe, where laboratory testing confirmed measles among school-aged children between six and 14 years old. The tally in Butha-Buthe rose to 12 confirmed and 14 suspected cases by the end of the month, while Leribe district recorded six suspected cases among adolescents aged 13 to 15 in the Maputsoe Community Council.

Health officials across these affected countries continue to mobilize resources to contain the outbreaks and prevent wider spread, highlighting ongoing challenges for regional disease control and public health preparedness.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.