*Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organisation, affirms a $518 million joint plan has been launched to tackle the Ebola outbreak causing alarm, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, immediate neighbours, and other parts of Africa
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
In a move to contain the deadly Ebola virus actions the continent, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Union’s (AU) public health agency, Friday, June 5, 2026, launched a $518 million joint plan to tackle the Ebola outbreak causing alarm, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, its immediate neighbours, and other parts of the continent.
ConsumerConnect gathered both WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said the contingency plan would last from June to November this year.
It is recalled that the resurgence of the disease outbreak was declared May 15, 2026 in Northeastern DRC.
However, the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus is believed to have been spreading under the radar for some time beforehand, agency report said.
381 Confirmed cases, 64 deaths recorded in DRC: Official
WHO’s latest figures also indicated that there have been 381 confirmed cases in the DRC, including 64 deaths.
It was learnt the outbreak in Northeastern DRC had hit three provinces, with the epicentre in Ituri, which the Africa CDC disclosed accounts for 90 percent of confirmed cases and 76 percent of deaths in the country.
Besides, across the northeastern border in Uganda, a neighbouring country, there have been 16 confirmed cases, including a death.
Core areas of action plan, by WHO Chief
Speaking on the urgency of the health regulatory actions to contain the spread of the Ebola virus, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of
WHO, told reporters at a press conference: “The plan focuses on core areas: emergency coordination, surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, and community engagement.”
Dr. Ghebreyesus stated: “This is a practical plan. It sets out what we need to do now, together, to contain the current outbreak and reduce the risk of further spread.
“It’s a time-bound plan, covering June to November this year.
“It’s a costed plan, at $518 million.”
The current outbreak is bigger than the two previous recorded outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain, in 2007 and 2012, according to the Africa CDC.
Worse still, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, according to reports.