Africa is currently facing an unprecedented Ebola outbreak that has raised concerns about its potential to spread beyond the continent, including to countries such as the United Kingdom, according to Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) earlier this year, has resulted in more than 10,000 reported cases and nearly 5,000 deaths. Dr. Kaseya compared the situation to the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, noting the rapid geographic spread and the risk that other countries could be affected if adequate measures are not taken.

Declared officially on May 15 in Ituri province, DR Congo, health officials have traced the outbreak’s origins to February. It is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, marking the 17th Ebola outbreak in the country and the largest and deadliest in its history. The disease is highly contagious and often fatal, transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood and vomit, including handling of deceased victims during funerals.

Beyond DR Congo, the outbreak has spread to neighboring countries in East Africa, including Kenya and Uganda, with Uganda reporting fatalities. Nigeria recently confirmed a case in Abuja involving a woman who had traveled from Uganda. Outside Africa, France has reported a single case: a doctor who had returned from DR Congo in June.

No approved treatment currently exists for the Bundibugyo strain, although vaccine trials are underway, with results expected within three to six months. The majority of cases—more than 10,000—are in DR Congo, accompanied by nearly 4,900 deaths. Uganda and Kenya each have recorded two fatalities so far.

Efforts to control the outbreak face multiple challenges, including shortages of protective equipment, unpaid health workers leading to strikes, ongoing conflict in affected regions, and widespread mistrust and misinformation. These factors, combined with recent reductions in international aid, have complicated response operations significantly.

Dr. Kaseya plans to convene African health ministers to promote increased cross-border collaboration and urge governments to implement screening and testing protocols at borders. He emphasized that countries must raise their preparedness levels, warning that no nation is immune to the threat.

He also intends to call for a "corridor of peace" during a forthcoming summit with African heads of state. Conflict in DR Congo’s Ituri province has prevented health workers from safely accessing affected populations. “This outbreak is not for rebels or the official army; it’s for everyone,” said Kaseya. “Ebola can affect everyone … We need to come together to have a kind of agreement on how to protect each other.”

The ongoing outbreak represents a significant public health crisis not only for Africa but potentially worldwide, underscoring the need for coordinated international response and vigilant preparedness.