Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, has called for urgent, coordinated action to contain Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
With more than 80 deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus strain a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The WHO warned that there was currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the variant spreading.
Commenting on the outbreak on Sunday, 17 May 2026, President Ramaphosa commended the governments of DRC and Uganda for swiftly declaring the Bundibugyo strain outbreaks in Ituri province and Kampala, respectively, following laboratory confirmation.
He stressed that early detection, rapid reporting, and decisive action are critical to preventing escalation into a wider regional crisis.
The African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, expressed solidarity with affected communities and frontline health workers.
President Ramaphosa praised neighbouring countries for strengthening preparedness, cross-border surveillance, and emergency coordination.
He also highlighted the rapid support provided by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, under Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya, in partnership with the World Health Organisation.
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President Ramaphosa warned that Ebola does not respect borders, noting the region’s high population mobility, insecurity, and humanitarian movement as factors heightening the risk of regional spread.
He urged governments to intensify collaboration, strengthen surveillance at points of entry, and ensure rapid information sharing.
In his other capacity as chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health, President Ramaphosa made a special plea to safeguard vulnerable groups.
“I make a special plea to ensure that women, children, and adolescents are not left behind and that routine services do not backslide as we handle this crisis,” he said.
President Ramaphosa emphasised the need for sustained investment in resilient public health systems, despite declining Official Development Assistance, and called on African Union Member States and international partners to provide timely financing, technical assistance, and direct support to affected communities.
President Ramaphosa’s Key Advice:
- Early detection: Rapid reporting and decisive action are vital to contain outbreaks.
- Solidarity: Support affected communities and frontline health workers.
- Cross-border collaboration: Intensify surveillance and information sharing at formal and informal points of entry.
- Protect vulnerable groups: Ensure women, children, and adolescents are not left behind.
- Invest in resilience: Strengthen public health institutes, laboratories, and rapid response capabilities.
- Timely support: Secure financing, medical countermeasures, and technical assistance.
President Ramaphosa concluded by affirming that Africa has the institutions, experience, and resolve to contain the outbreaks, but stressed that urgency, unity, and collective action are now required.
