The rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak in Africa could extend beyond the continent and reach countries such as the United Kingdom if governments fail to strengthen their preparedness and response mechanisms, a senior African health official has warned. With more than 10,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths reported, the outbreak has raised serious concerns among global health authorities over the possibility of further international transmission.
Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has described the geographical spread of the disease as unprecedented, pointing out that this is the first time an Ebola outbreak has affected three different African regions. He cautioned that countries across the world should not assume they are safe from the virus and must urgently improve their capacity to detect, contain and treat infections.
Drawing a parallel with the Covid-19 pandemic, Kaseya said countries that initially believed they were at no risk eventually became major centres of infection. He warned that the international community should learn from the experience of the pandemic and take preventive measures before the situation worsens. He expressed concern that the United Kingdom and other countries could also become affected if adequate precautions were not taken.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and has become the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is the 17th outbreak reported in the country since the virus was first identified there in 1976. Although the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, genetic sequencing indicates that infections may have begun as early as February.
According to the latest figures cited by health authorities, the DRC has reported 10,060 cases and 4,887 deaths. Uganda and Kenya have each recorded two deaths. The disease has spread across central, eastern and western Africa, with Kenya and Uganda reporting infections in the eastern region and Nigeria confirming a case in its capital, Abuja, after a woman who had travelled from Uganda tested positive. France has also reported one case involving a doctor who returned from the DRC, making it the only country outside Africa to confirm an infection linked to the outbreak so far.
Ebola is a severe and highly contagious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, including blood and vomit. Contact with the bodies of people who have died from the disease, particularly during funeral preparations, can also result in transmission. The Bundibugyo strain currently responsible for the outbreak has no approved specific treatment. However, vaccine trials are underway, with preliminary results expected within three to six months, Kaseya said.
Efforts to contain the outbreak have been complicated by several challenges, including shortages of protective equipment, delays in paying healthcare workers and strikes by frontline staff. Armed conflict in parts of the DRC has restricted access to affected communities, while public distrust, misinformation and reductions in international aid have further weakened containment efforts.
Kaseya is scheduled to convene a meeting of African health ministers to push for stronger cooperation between countries. He has called for enhanced screening and testing of travellers arriving from affected regions, as well as checks at departure points to identify infections before they spread across borders.
He also plans to urge African leaders at a November meeting to establish a ‘corridor of peace’ in conflict-affected areas so that healthcare workers can safely reach vulnerable populations. He emphasised that controlling Ebola requires cooperation among governments, armed groups and local communities, as the disease does not distinguish between political or military sides.
Highlighting the financial requirements of the response, Kaseya said governments had pledged around $3 billion, but more than $2 billion was still awaited. African countries had committed $120 million, while the remaining assistance was expected from international donors, including the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Warning against delays in financial support, he said the outbreak could spread further and make containment significantly more expensive. He stressed that immediate international assistance, stronger surveillance and coordinated public health measures were essential to prevent the crisis from developing into a much larger global health emergency.
