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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has raised alarm over the growing spread of Ebola across parts of the continent, warning that at least 10 African countries are now considered high-risk due to increasing cross-border movement, weak health surveillance systems, and rising infections linked to the current outbreak. The warning was issued during a media briefing on Thursday as health authorities intensified emergency monitoring and preparedness measures across vulnerable regions. (punchng.com)
According to Africa CDC officials, countries considered most vulnerable include Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, and the Central African Republic. The agency explained that the current outbreak has been complicated by porous borders, population displacement, and challenges in rapidly detecting new infections in remote communities. Health authorities also expressed concern that limited healthcare infrastructure in some affected areas could make containment more difficult if infections continue spreading. (punchng.com)
The outbreak is linked to the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, a variant for which there is currently no fully approved vaccine, unlike the more common Zaire strain previously seen in outbreaks in West and Central Africa. Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and can cause severe fever, vomiting, internal bleeding, and organ failure. The World Health Organisation has already deployed emergency teams and medical resources to support affected countries while surveillance at airports and border crossings has been intensified in several regions. (who.int)
Africa CDC urged governments across the continent to strengthen disease surveillance systems, improve laboratory testing capacity, and educate citizens about preventive measures to reduce panic and misinformation. Public health experts warned that delayed responses, poor healthcare funding, and political instability in some regions could worsen the outbreak if swift action is not taken. The latest warning has revived memories of the devastating 2014 West African Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people and severely affected healthcare systems across multiple countries, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. (cdc.gov)
