The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have unveiled a joint continental preparedness and response plan to combat the ongoing Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.

The six-month initiative, scheduled to run from June to November 2026, aims to mobilise $518 million to support African countries in strengthening preparedness, improving early detection systems and enhancing rapid response capacity to contain the outbreak.

The strategy is built around a unified “One Response” framework that brings together governments, development partners and local communities to reinforce key outbreak management areas, including emergency coordination, disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, clinical care, community engagement, research, logistics and continuity of essential health services.

The continental plan is designed to complement national response strategies already activated by the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Speaking on the initiative, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasised that effective containment of the outbreak depends on strong coordination among countries and international partners.

“The only way to beat this outbreak is through close partnership, working together under the leadership of the affected countries in one coordinated effort, guided by a simple principle: one plan, one budget, one team,” Tedros said.

He added that successful Ebola containment requires political commitment, sustained funding and active participation from affected communities.

“Containing Ebola depends on political commitment, sustained financing, and the trust and engagement of communities. This plan places communities at the centre, because without their participation, contact tracing falters, safe care is delayed, and transmission continues,” he said.

Also speaking, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said Africa must respond swiftly and decisively to halt the spread of the virus.

“Ebola moves fast. Africa must move faster. This joint plan gives the continent a clear path to act with speed and unity: to save lives, support the affected countries and protect neighbouring communities. With Member States, WHO and partners, Africa CDC is turning commitment into action and resources into response for the communities at risk,” he said.

Beyond immediate containment efforts, the plan prioritises protecting vulnerable populations, strengthening cross-border collaboration and activating rapid response mechanisms for emerging cases.

Officials noted that African countries will pool expertise, resources and technical capacity to reinforce outbreak control and safeguard communities across the region.

With no licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics currently approved for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, the strategy places strong emphasis on strengthening health systems to ensure resilience during public health emergencies.

Preparedness and response activities are already ongoing in affected and high-risk countries, while 10 priority nations are intensifying surveillance, emergency readiness and rapid response operations.

The coordinated effort comes as response operations continue to expand in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where authorities are ramping up measures to halt transmission and bring the outbreak under control.