Ebola Crisis: Africa CDC Leads the Fight as Cases Hit 894

The Ebola outbreak across Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached 894 confirmed cases and 204 confirmed deaths in its first month. Africa CDC is steering a bold continental response, but critical funding gaps and the absence of licensed vaccines for the Sudan strain are testing the continent's resolve.

What is the current scale of the Ebola outbreak?

The numbers are serious, no doubt. Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, we have seen 894 confirmed cases and 204 confirmed deaths, with 74 people recovering. Dr. Wessam Mankoula, Acting Head of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Division at Africa CDC, broke down the data during a Thursday webinar. He confirmed that the DRC is driving this surge, with Ituri Province as the epicenter, reporting 91 confirmed cases and accounting for 78 per cent of all deaths recorded in the country.

Uganda's situation remains contained for now. The country has 19 cases, two deaths, and seven recoveries, with a 10.5 per cent case fatality rate. All cases are confined to one health zone in Kampala, and contact tracing stands at 100 per cent. That is a win worth recognizing.

The outbreak has spread rapidly, jumping from three health zones in week one to 32 health zones across the DRC and Uganda by week four. Cases increased by 38 per cent from last week to this week. This now ranks as the third-largest Ebola outbreak by total cases and deaths, trailing only West Africa 2014 and the 2018-2019 DRC outbreak.

How is Africa CDC leading the continental response?

This is where the story shifts. Africa is not waiting for external saviors. Africa CDC declared a public health emergency of continental security on May 18, just three days after the outbreak was confirmed. The Director-General conducted field visits to the DRC and Kampala immediately.

On May 22 and 23, Africa CDC convened a Kampala Summit with health ministers from the DRC, Uganda, and high-risk neighbors like South Sudan to agree on a joint action plan. On June 16, the African Union Commission and Africa CDC convened heads of state and government, chaired by AU Chairperson and President of Burundi, to align political support.

A unified continental response plan was launched by Africa CDC and WHO, structured around 11 pillars with a six-month budget of 517 million dollars for affected countries, at-risk neighbors, and partner coordination. That is African leadership in action.

Where does the response show real progress?

Testing capacity has improved dramatically. Initial backlogs of five to eight days have been eliminated, with tests now processed within 24 hours. Africa CDC has delivered 21,000 tests to the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, and Burundi, with more than 27,000 additional tests in the pipeline.

A regional logistics hub was launched in MTB to manage Ebola supply chains, featuring a strategic task force, market working group, and control tower to coordinate procurement and distribution across the continent. More than 60 metric tons of infection prevention and control commodities and medical supplies have been delivered to the DRC and Uganda, with support from India and Egypt. Starlink equipment has also been deployed for connectivity at points of entry and surveillance centers.

Exit and entry screening guidance is now implemented, with about 90 per cent of travelers exiting the DRC screened to reduce cross-border transmission without broad movement restrictions. Infection prevention and control assessments covered 43 facilities in the DRC and 108 in Uganda, with 42 sites supported for decontamination.

What are the critical challenges right now?

The challenges are real, and we must face them head on. Contact tracing remains critically low. For more than 800 confirmed cases, an estimated 17,000 to 35,000 contacts should be listed and monitored daily, but only slightly more than 6,000 are listed. That is about 20 per cent of the expected number. Of those 6,000 listed contacts, only around 4,000 are actively followed, which is less than 15 per cent of the contacts that should be monitored to detect new cases early.

North Kivu remains the most worrisome area due to insecurity limiting responder access, resulting in a high case fatality rate and the lowest contact tracing coverage among the three affected provinces. Safe and dignified burial capacity is severely lacking. Only seven of 49 required teams are deployed, seven of 98 needed vehicles are available, and 84 of 540 required personnel are on the ground.

Treatment capacity is nearing its limit. Nine Ebola treatment centres in the DRC have 433 beds at 86 per cent occupancy, and nine more centers are under construction to meet projected case growth. There are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for the Sudan strain, meaning controlling the outbreak depends entirely on case identification, contact listing, and daily monitoring by community health workers.

Why is the funding gap a problem?

Here is where the frustration builds. AU heads of state summits secured 910 million dollars in pledges, including 80 million dollars from AU member states. But less than 90 million dollars has actually been released to affected countries and partners. The gap between pledges and actual cash is a familiar story. Africa is stepping up, but the international community must move beyond promises. Real emergencies demand real money, not just headlines.

Can Africa bring this outbreak under control?

The path forward is clear but demanding. The key challenges include the absence of licensed medical countermeasures, ongoing insecurity that blocks access especially in North Kivu, the need to protect healthcare workers, and the urgent need to scale up contact tracing from less than 15 per cent to the 95 per cent target.

Africa CDC has shown it can move fast, coordinate across borders, and deliver results. The testing turnaround improvement proves what African institutions can do when they lead. But without full funding, without vaccines, and without security in conflict zones, the fight remains uphill. The continent has the will. Now it needs the world to match that will with action, not just words.