Kaseya to world: 'ACT NOW' as Ebola becomes most widespread outbreak in history

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya has issued an urgent appeal for global support after Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case, warning that the Bundibugyo outbreak has become “the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak in history”.

In a statement posted to the agency’s official X handle on Tuesday, following a discussion with Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, Kaseya demanded immediate, flexible financing, medical supplies, diagnostic equipment, trained emergency responders and stronger community-based surveillance. He named partners including the WHO, the World Bank, Gavi, UNICEF and the African Development Bank.

“My appeal to the international community is urgent: ACT NOW,” he said. “Every day of delay costs lives. Africa’s health security is global health security. Stopping Ebola in Africa today means protecting the world.”

Kaseya said Africa CDC had begun mobilising support for Nigeria while intensifying its response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya, and maintaining heightened vigilance in Uganda. Health authorities put the DRC mortality rate at approaching 50 per cent, with more than 9,000 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths.

Nigeria’s first case, a woman who arrived by air from Uganda, is in isolation in Abuja with 44 close contacts traced. Kenya confirmed its ninth case on Monday, all linked to a single cluster.

Sources: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/918679-africa-cdc-calls-for-urgent-global-support-as-nigeria-confirms-ebola-case.html | https://punchng.com/africa-cdc-seeks-urgent-global-support-after-nigeria-confirms-first-ebola-case/ | https://www.ewn.co.za/2026/10/21/nigeria-records-first-ebola-case-as-outbreak-spreads | https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/health/414325/uganda-says-it-has-no-active-ebola-cases-as-africa-cdc-calls-for-urgent-global-support