A blunt assessment to ministers

The head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has delivered a blunt assessment of the continent's Ebola outbreak: the fight is not being won. Director-General Jean Kaseya told an extraordinary meeting of more than 40 African health ministers that confirmed cases had surpassed 10,000 and total deaths were approaching 5,000, according to data compiled by the World Health Organization.

“Yesterday I stood before more than 40 African Ministers and said what the data tells us: we are not winning so far. 10,172 confirmed cases. 4,932 people are gone,” Kaseya said, as reported on 30 October.

Where the outbreak stands

The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026. The DRC accounts for 10,141 confirmed cases and 4,928 deaths across eight affected provinces. Kenya has reported nine confirmed cases and two deaths, and Uganda 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, alongside one probable case and one probable death. France and Nigeria have each recorded one imported case with no fatalities; Nigeria is monitoring 54 contacts linked to its case.

Ministers at the meeting agreed to elevate readiness for potential importations and coordinate cross-border surveillance, as responders continue to face overwhelmed treatment centres, community scepticism and attacks on health workers in parts of the DRC.

Sources: Africa CDC via JolibaLive