The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries across Africa to sustain heightened surveillance, strengthen cross-border preparedness and protect frontline health workers as the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus poses a growing regional public health challenge....
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries across Africa to sustain heightened surveillance, strengthen cross-border preparedness and protect frontline health workers as the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus poses a growing regional public health challenge.
The agency said early detection, effective contact tracing and rapid isolation of suspected cases remain critical to preventing further transmission and protecting communities.
The call follows Nigeria’s first reported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, with WHO working alongside the Federal Government and other partners to strengthen the response and limit the risk of further spread.
In an update published on Tuesday, WHO said the patient was receiving medical care in isolation, while public health authorities had identified 44 contacts for monitoring.
Investigations are continuing to establish the likely source of infection and reconstruct the patient’s travel and exposure history.
WHO said it was working with the governments of Nigeria, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to reinforce outbreak response measures, including surveillance, contact tracing and preparedness across national borders.
The agency stressed that countries must remain ready to detect suspected infections promptly, interrupt chains of transmission and prevent healthcare facilities from becoming centres of further spread.
It also emphasised the need to protect healthcare workers and ensure communities receive timely, accurate information to support public health measures.
The Bundibugyo virus outbreak, declared in the DRC in May 2026, has raised concerns over the movement of infections across borders, prompting countries to strengthen surveillance and emergency response capacity.
Public health measures include identifying people who may have been exposed to the virus, monitoring them for symptoms, ensuring safe clinical care and enforcing infection prevention and control procedures in healthcare facilities.
WHO has also highlighted community engagement as an essential part of outbreak control, urging health authorities to work with local communities to build trust, encourage early reporting of symptoms and counter misinformation.
The Bundibugyo virus is a species of Ebola virus for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment.
Early supportive clinical care and prompt public health intervention therefore remain important in managing cases and reducing transmission risks.
Nigeria’s health authorities have urged public and private healthcare facilities to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention measures and report alerts to public health authorities without delay.
WHO said sustained preparedness and coordinated action among countries and partners would be essential to detecting cases early, protecting frontline personnel and preventing further spread of the virus.