Africa CDC calls emergency Ebola meeting as outbreak spreads to four countries

More than 9,500 infected and nearly half dead since virus confirmed in DRC in May; rare Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccines

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

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Africa's Centre for Disease Control has announced an extraordinary virtual meeting of national health officials on October 28 as the continent's Ebola outbreak, the fastest-growing on record, continues to spread. More than 9,500 people have been infected since the virus was first confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May, with nearly half dying, and the outbreak has now reached four countries including Nigeria.

Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the October 28 crisis meeting would give officials a chance to, in his words, "strengthen our collective response" to an outbreak that now affects three regions of the continent.

The announcement came after news on Tuesday that the virus had reached Nigeria, arriving with a woman who returned from Uganda earlier in the month. Nigerian authorities report they are tracing 44 contact persons, with Health Minister Muhammad Pate saying officials are "doing everything possible to contain this case."

Uganda, which recorded 20 cases in this outbreak and declared itself Ebola-free in July, has rejected Nigeria's claims that the virus spread from there. The WHO declared the Uganda outbreak over on August 27.

The current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus strain, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist. Olajumoke Babatunde, director of the public health laboratory service at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed the strain matched the Nigerian patient: "We did three levels of tests, but all molecular. The strain was Bundibugyo."

The WHO, which says this is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded, has advised "all countries in the region to sustain a high level of readiness as the DRC outbreak continues to evolve."

The outbreak has spread wider than previous ones, reaching central, eastern and western regions of Africa. One French national, a doctor doing humanitarian work in transmission zones inside Congo, was infected but recovered after treatment at a specialised facility in France.

In a post to X late Wednesday, Kaseya wrote: "Ebola is now affecting three regions of Africa. The situation demands urgent action and political leadership at the highest level." He added: "Africa has the expertise, the institutions and the capacity to defeat this outbreak. We must act together and we must act now."

Analysis

Why This Matters

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments, leaving officials with limited medical tools.
It has spread to four countries across three regions of Africa, wider than previous Ebola outbreaks, and the WHO calls it the fastest-growing ever.
The October 28 meeting will determine whether the continent can coordinate a response quickly enough to contain a second country's outbreak.

Background

Ebola is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever that has caused periodic outbreaks in Africa since its discovery in the 1970s. The current outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May and has since crossed borders despite control efforts. The Bundibugyo strain is among the rarer Ebola viruses, has caused smaller past outbreaks and lacks the approved countermeasures developed for the more common Zaire strain.

Key Perspectives

Africa CDC: Director General Jean Kaseya insists the continent has the expertise and institutions to defeat the outbreak, urging urgent action, reinforced coordination and political leadership. Affected governments: Nigeria's health ministry says it is doing everything possible to contain its first case, tracing 44 contacts, and is confident in its laboratory identification of the strain. Uganda: Rejects Nigeria's account that the infection arrived from Uganda, a claim that has created friction between the two countries' health authorities.

What to Watch

The October 28 virtual meeting and whether it produces concrete cross-border measures or mainly declarations of intent.
Results of Nigeria's contact tracing, which will show whether the single imported case has led to local transmission.
Surveillance in other countries at risk, and any further spread beyond the four countries already affected.

Sources

Africa CDC calls crisis meeting as Ebola spreads · DW English

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedAfrica CDC called an extraordinary virtual meeting for October 28 as the outbreak spread to four countries, including Nigeria.DW English: “Africa CDC late Wednesday announced that it would convene an "extraordinary virtual meeting" of national health officials as the continent's latest Ebola outbreak continues to spread. ... Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya billed the October 28 crisis meeting”
SupportedMore than 9,500 people have been infected since Ebola was first confirmed in the DRC in May, and nearly half have died.DW English: “More than 9,500 people have been infected since the virus was first confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in May. Nearly half of those infected have died.”
SupportedThe outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccines exist.DW English: “This current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist.”
SupportedThe outbreak is the fastest-growing on record.DW English: “the outbreak, which the WHO says is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever”
SupportedKaseya said the October 28 meeting would give officials a chance to “strengthen our collective response.”DW English: “Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya billed the October 28 crisis meeting as a chance to "strengthen our collective response."”
SupportedNigerian authorities are tracing 44 contact persons, and Health Minister Muhammad Pate said officials were “doing everything possible to contain this case.”DW English: “Authorities in Nigeria say they are tracing 44 contact persons, with Health Minister Muhammad Pate noting that officials are, "doing everything possible to contain this case."”
SupportedBabatunde said the Nigerian patient's strain was Bundibugyo after three levels of molecular tests.DW English: “"We did three levels of tests, but all molecular. The strain was Bundibugyo," said Olajumoke Babatunde, director of the public health laboratory service at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.”
SupportedUganda recorded 20 cases in this outbreak, declared itself Ebola-free in July, and rejected Nigeria's claims that the virus spread from there.DW English: “Uganda, which recorded 20 cases in this latest outbreak and declared itself "Ebola-free" in July, has rejected Nigeria's claims.”
SupportedThe WHO declared Uganda's outbreak over on August 27.DW English: “The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Uganda outbreak over on August 27.”
SupportedThe WHO advised countries in the region to maintain a high level of readiness as the DRC outbreak evolves.DW English: “For its part, the WHO advised "all countries in the region to sustain a high level of readiness as the DRC outbreak continues to evolve."”
SupportedKaseya wrote that Ebola was affecting three regions of Africa and that the situation demanded urgent action and political leadership.DW English: “"Ebola is now affecting three regions of Africa. The situation demands urgent action and political leadership at the highest level."”
SupportedA French national, a doctor doing humanitarian work in Congo's transmission zones, was infected and recovered after treatment in France.DW English: “One French national, a doctor doing humanitarian work in transmission zones inside Congo was infected but recovered after treatment at a specialized facility in France.”