The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially declared the ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo ebolavirus disease, affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) due to the Ebola Outbreak.
The decision, announced following urgent consultations with the African Union Commissioner, regional heads of state, and the Africa CDC’s Emergency Consultative Group (ECG), marks only the most serious level of alert under the continent’s public regulations.
It empowers the Africa CDC to coordinate response efforts across affected and at-risk member states directly.
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As of May 18, 2026, a total of 395 suspected cases and 106 associated deaths have been reported. The majority of cases are concentrated in the DRC’s Mongwalu, Rwampara, and Bunia Health Zones.
However, international concern has intensified after two cases and one death were confirmed in Kampala, Uganda – marking cross-border transmission of the Bundibugyo strain.
“Today, we declare this PHECS to mobilise our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act swiftly and decisively,” said H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.
“The confirmation of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus in interconnected countries reminds us once again that Africa’s health security is indivisible. We must act early, act together, and act based on science.”
Africa CDC has expressed deep concern over several factors that could accelerate the outbreak beyond current borders. These includes intense cross-border population movement linked to mining activity, active insecurity in affected areas of eastern DRC that hampers response access, weak infection prevention and control measures in many local health, weak infection prevention and control measures in many local health facilities, and community deaths occurring outside the formal healthcare system, leading to unsafe burials.
The geographic proximity of affected zones to Rwanda and South Sudan has placed both neighbouring countries at heightened risk.
Professor Salim Abdool Karim, chair of the ECG, noted: “The ECG carefully reviewed the epidemiological evidence, regional risk profile, and operational realities surrounding this outbreak. The interconnected nature of transmission between DRC and Uganda, combined with the challenges posed by insecurity and cross-border movement, requires urgent coordinated continental action.”
Under Article 3, Paragraph F of the Africa CDC Statute, the PHECS declaration allows the continental body to lead and coordinate health emergency responses across member states.
Africa CDC has already mobilised $2 million internally to support immediate response activities and has deployed multidisciplinary experts in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, laboratory system, risk communication, logistics, and emergency coordination.
The organisation has also activated an Incident Management Support Team (IMST) jointly with the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and affected countries, operating under the “4 Ones” principle of one team, one plan, one budget, and one monitoring framework.
A major challenge remains the limited availability of validated vaccines and therapeutics specifically for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain. Africa CDC is working with global partners to assess medical countermeasures and accelerate operational research to inform response strategies.
Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials, or deceased individuals.
Africa CDC stressed that early detection, rapid isolation and care, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, community engagement and safe and dignified burials remain essential to interrupt transmission.
Dr Kaseya called for unity and solidarity: “This outbreak is occurring in one of the most complex operational environments on the continent. We call upon our Member States and international partners to stand together with Africa CDC, the WHO, UNICEF and the affected countries to prevent further spread and protect our populations.”
Africa CDC says it will continue to provide regular updates as additional epidemiological, laboratory, and sequencing information becomes available. Neighbouring countries have been urged to immediately accelerate preparedness activities.
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