Africa's own health agency, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, has sounded the alarm that the Ebola outbreak sweeping parts of the continent is still not under control, with more than 10,200 confirmed cases and over 5,000 deaths recorded.
The warning came from Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya on Friday, October 30, during an appearance on Channels Television's Morning Brief, as reported by Vanguard. Kaseya delivered the assessment bluntly after a virtual ministerial meeting on October 28 that pulled together more than 42 ministers and over 600 participants, including international organisations and development partners.
What Jean Kaseya said about the Ebola data
“We analysed the data and we saw that the outbreak is not yet under control,” Kaseya said. No diplomatic padding, no soft talk. Just the numbers.
“We have achieved what is a number of 10,000 people confirmed cases in DRC and also, if we put together, it's more than 10,200 confirmed cases across the continent,” he said.
“We also saw that we have more than 5,000 people already passed on due to this outbreak,” he added. Figures published separately by health authorities showed a slightly lower confirmed death toll, but the message from Africa CDC is clear: the continent is not winning this fight yet. The National described containment efforts as falling critically behind.
Which countries are affected by the Ebola outbreak?
The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, and it has touched several African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Nigeria.
The DRC carries the heaviest burden by far. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control showed 10,193 confirmed cases and 4,960 related deaths there as of October 28. Uganda has also battled the same strain; the US CDC noted that Uganda reported 21 confirmed and probable cases and 3 deaths, with the last case confirmed on June 21. The agency pointed to limited health infrastructure, scarce laboratory services and weak infection control supplies as factors making the response harder.
Kenya has recorded nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, after an imported infection linked to the DRC.
Nigeria's first Ebola case in more than a decade
Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in over ten years on October 20, after a 42-year-old Swiss woman tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain in Abuja. She had travelled from Uganda to Nigeria.
Nigerian health workers isolated and treated her before she was medically evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 once her condition stabilised. Her husband, identified as a close contact, was evacuated with her.
After the evacuation, the World Health Organisation's Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said Nigeria had no confirmed Ebola cases. But the WHO moved quickly to clarify that this did not mean Nigeria had been declared Ebola-free, since health authorities were still monitoring everyone who had contact with the patient. Nigeria must complete the required 42-day monitoring period before any official Ebola-free declaration.
In its October 29 situation report, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said 62 contacts linked to the index case had been identified and were being monitored. The agency added that no new contacts and no symptomatic contacts had been identified in the preceding 24 hours. That is Nigerian systems doing the work, contact tracing day after day.
Why the shifting epicentre worries Africa CDC
Kaseya also flagged a change in the geographical spread of the disease, noting that the epicentre is shifting. An outbreak that moves is an outbreak that is harder to contain, especially with heavy movement of people across African borders.
The continued spread has raised serious questions about cross-border transmission and the capacity of African countries to contain infectious diseases. Kaseya has warned that without more funding to strengthen preparedness and treatment, the outbreak could spread the way Covid did, according to The Guardian.
Here is the uncomfortable truth. African institutions like Africa CDC and the NCDC are stepping up, tracking cases, coordinating ministers, and telling the world plainly that the fight is not won. What they need now is resources and respect, not lectures from outside. The continent that carries the burden must lead the response.
FAQ
Is the Ebola outbreak in Africa under control?
No. Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said on October 30 that the outbreak is not yet under control, with more than 10,200 confirmed cases and over 5,000 deaths across the continent.
Which countries have confirmed Ebola cases in this outbreak?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Nigeria have all confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo strain, with the DRC accounting for the overwhelming majority of infections and deaths.
Is Nigeria Ebola-free now?
No. The WHO says Nigeria has no confirmed cases after the index patient was evacuated, but the country must complete a 42-day monitoring period before an official Ebola-free declaration.
How many contacts is Nigeria monitoring?
The NCDC said on October 29 that 62 contacts linked to the index case were identified and being monitored, with no new or symptomatic contacts in the previous 24 hours.