Africa's recurring Ebola problem:

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CWA # 2319, 29 October 2026

CW Explainer

Africa's recurring Ebola problem:

Akshath Kaimal
Akshath Kaimal is a postgraduate in International Studies and International Humanitarian Action. He is currently a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader and Africa

Africa is facing another Ebola epidemic. The Ebola virus was first identified in the DRC in 1976, and the country has witnessed 17 outbreaks ever since. Outbreaks have also been reported in Uganda, Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, reflecting the virus’s ability to easily spill over from animal hosts to human populations across borders.

The scale of past outbreaks vary considerably. Most outbreaks have generally been geographically concentrated around the epicenter, but the 2014-2016 West African epidemic is the worst on record, with over 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The current outbreak was declared on 15 May and is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no licensed vaccine or treatment exists. According to the WHO, as of 06 October, the DRC had recorded 4,205 deaths from 8,728 confirmed cases, representing a 48 per cent case fatality rate (CFR). Caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, the outbreak highlights Africa’s recurring struggle with Ebola. In the DRC, armed conflict, delayed detection, healthcare shortages, and limited medical countermeasures have made containing the virus particularly difficult.

1. Why is Ebola a recurring challenge for Africa?
The geography of the continent plays a role, with dense tropical forests and increased human-wildlife contact raising risks for zoonotic spillovers. Africa has been facing consequences of delayed detection, limited treatment access, and weak coordination between states. The current outbreaks mirror the same fault lines. Ebola is not exclusive to Africa, but the largest outbreaks have occurred there. In regions historically affected by the virus, conflict, displacement, cross-border movement, and limited healthcare access have complicated containment. This is why the current outbreak in the DRC is important.

2. Why is the outbreak in the DRC particularly severe?
Authorities say transmission has spread across 63 health zones in seven provinces, with the eastern provinces particularly affected. The outbreak’s severity reflects the dual realities of limited medical access and conditions on the ground. First, delayed detection and insufficient contact tracing have led to the WHO warning that 80-85 per cent of new cases are originating from unknown transmission chains and are being detected outside established surveillance networks. Second, healthcare worker strikes and community resistance to treatment have complicated response efforts. According to Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), 75 per cent of Ebola deaths are community deaths that are happening outside treatment centers, highlighting limited access and resistance. And third, armed conflict, displacement, and limited humanitarian inflow, particularly in the rebel-held eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, have further disrupted essential services and delayed detection.

3. What have been the domestic and international responses so far?
The DRC government, WHO, and humanitarian organisations have led the response. Their efforts have strengthened surveillance, testing, treatment facilities, and contact tracing. Neighbouring Uganda and Kenya have also stepped up preparedness due to cross-border transmission. On the treatment front, research efforts are addressing the shortage of medical countermeasures through Bundibugyo-specific vaccines and antivirals. The government and WHO have also begun administering the Ervebo vaccine to frontline workers, although its efficacy against the Bundibugyo strain is still unknown. However, the success of countermeasures also depends on the environment in which they are administered. Funding shortages, limited treatment capacity, and healthcare worker strikes over unpaid wages and insufficient protective equipment have disrupted services. Furthermore, historical grievances, misinformation, and government mistrust have added another dynamic to the outbreak response. This is particularly evident during burials, as Ebola remains highly infectious after death while cultural practices often involve close contact with the deceased. Families may consequently conceal symptomatic individuals or resist safe burial procedures, hindering contact tracing and allowing transmission chains to remain undetected.

4. What are the major challenges?
First, insecurity, healthcare worker shortages, and community mistrust remain major obstacles to the response. The Associated Press reported that the burning of an Ebola-related facility at the Kigonze displacement camp near Bunia disrupted medical services and forced 19,000 displaced people to flee, further straining the healthcare system. Second, humanitarian access remains hindered, especially in rebel-held areas in the east, where authorities are playing down the outbreak. Dedicated humanitarian corridors will not only provide lifesaving aid to those in need, but they will also help build community trust in health professionals. Working with local leaders, survivors, and civil society organisations will also help counter misinformation and promote safe burial practices that respect cultural sensitivities. Third, while treatments are being developed, treatment access also needs to be expanded. Investment in surveillance, treatment, and the broader healthcare system can help close the gap in medical preparedness. Containing Ebola depends not only on scientific advances, but also on reliable health services, community cooperation, and sustained international assistance.

Recurring Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Africa as a whole raise broader questions on epidemic responses, complicating factors and community involvement. The DRC’s experience shows that containing outbreaks requires long-term investment in preparedness, rather than repeated cycles of crisis management. Without this shift, each new outbreak risks exposing the same vulnerabilities and exacting another heavy human cost.

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October 2026 | CWA # 2319

Akshath Kaimal | Akshath Kaimal is a postgraduate in International Studies and International Humanitarian Action. He is currently a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader and Africa

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