Kampala, Uganda | URN | The World Health Organisation (WHO) has intensified Ebola preparedness efforts in three priority countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, citing conflict, displacement and fragile health systems that could complicate efforts to contain a potential outbreak.
The United Nations health agency is prioritising Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan as it works to strengthen surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and emergency response systems across its Eastern Mediterranean Region, which comprises 22 countries and territories spanning parts of Africa, Asia and Europe.
The initiative follows deadly outbreaks of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as the confirmation of infections in Kenya linked to the outbreak in the DRC.
Although no Ebola cases have been reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO says existing humanitarian crises and overstretched health services could undermine countries’ ability to detect and respond rapidly to suspected infections.
The urgency of the preparations is underscored by the scale of the outbreak in the DRC. As of October 13, the country had reported more than 9,000 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths, making it the largest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history.
The outbreak has spread across multiple provinces, raising concerns about further cross-border transmission. Kenya has also reported infections linked to the outbreak. On October 16, the country confirmed a third case involving a 65-year-old woman who was a close relative of earlier patients.
The infections have heightened concerns about the potential for further international spread, although Kenyan authorities have reported no evidence of widespread community transmission.
In a speech earlier this week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the Eastern Mediterranean Region as “the epicentre of global humanitarian need”, highlighting the pressures facing countries already grappling with emergencies.
Between July and September, WHO deployed missions to Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan to assess national preparedness and identify weaknesses in Ebola surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, case management and emergency coordination. The agency is now working with national authorities to address the gaps through technical assistance, training, medical supplies and simulation exercises designed to test countries’ ability to respond to suspected cases.
WHO has also developed regional preparedness checklists, contingency-planning tools and technical guidance to support national response efforts. Additional assistance includes laboratory supplies, guidance for travellers and resources to improve community engagement. However, significant challenges remain, particularly in early case detection, laboratory confirmation and access to protective equipment and other emergency response resources.
“Conflict, insecurity and restricted access present additional challenges, particularly in countries already facing major humanitarian emergencies,” WHO said. These challenges are especially concerning because Ebola can spread through direct contact with the blood, secretions and other bodily fluids of infected people, as well as contaminated materials.
The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, and infected people are not considered infectious until symptoms begin, making effective surveillance and timely investigation of suspected cases critical.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment. WHO says effective outbreak control therefore depends on early detection, isolation and care of patients, contact tracing, infection prevention, safe burial practices and community cooperation.
WHO says it will continue working with national authorities and humanitarian partners to strengthen preparedness, improve coordination and ensure suspected cases can be rapidly detected, investigated and managed.
The efforts are intended to close critical gaps before the virus reaches countries facing significant barriers to mounting an effective emergency response.
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