By Hassan Wekesa - Editor
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Ethiopia, 29 October 2026 - Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director General Dr Jean Kaseya has warned that Africa is not yet out of the woods in the fight against Ebola.
Dr Kaseya on Thursday amplified the key message he delivered at a virtual ministerial meeting held on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, where he told more than 40 African Ministers that the continent is not yet winning the fight, as confirmed cases have passed 10,000. He said his assessment was based on his experience of tackling the disease over the years.
At the meeting, he said the outbreak had so far recorded 10,172 confirmed cases and 4,932 deaths.
Dr Kaseya, who has worked on Ebola outbreaks for more than 30 years, said he had shared the figures openly with the Ministers because transparency is central to controlling an outbreak of this scale.
“Ebola anywhere in Africa demands preparedness everywhere in Africa. We will get there, together,” he said.
He said no Minister had looked away during the presentation, which gave him hope that countries would act on the findings.
By the end of the meeting, the Ministers had agreed to prepare every country for possible cases and to coordinate their response across borders. They also resolved to keep borders open while monitoring them closely.
Dr Kaseya added that partners have pledged support for Africa’s plan to contain the outbreak.
The current outbreak is centred on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Africa CDC declared it on 15 May 2026. The DRC alone has 10,141 confirmed Ebola cases and 4,928 related deaths.
Cases or linked infections have also been reported in neighbouring and regional countries, including Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria.
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On Tuesday, 27 October, Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale hosted Dr Kaseya for bilateral discussions on Kenya’s response to the outbreak and efforts to strengthen preparedness, containment and public health security. Duale briefed him on the Government’s response measures.
For his part, Dr Kaseya reaffirmed Africa CDC’s commitment to supporting Kenya with financial, technical and operational assistance, including the deployment of experts, diagnostic supplies, and enhanced surveillance and contact tracing.
Kenya has nine confirmed cases of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease. The index case was made public on 6 October 2026, when health officials confirmed that the patient had died of the disease.
A second death was recorded when a 65-year-old patient, related to the first case, died and was buried in line with health protocols at Lang’ata Cemetery.
“Africa CDC has mobilised approximately $1.51 million for Kenya’s response, alongside laboratory supplies and equipment worth $350,000 to strengthen our Public Health Emergency Operations Centre,” Duale said on 27 October 2026.
Also present at the bilateral meeting were Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga, Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, and Digital Health Agency (DHA) Chief Executive Officer Eng Anthony Lenayara, among other Ministry officials.
With the Ebola threat far from over, coordinated action, regional cooperation and African solidarity are needed to contain the outbreak, protect lives and strengthen preparedness against emerging health threats.