Health officials from more than 40 African countries have agreed to keep borders open despite the worsening Ebola outbreak, adopting a coordinated response aimed at containing the virus without disrupting regional travel and trade.
The agreement followed an emergency virtual meeting convened by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Wednesday to assess the outbreak and strengthen regional preparedness.
The epidemic, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has recorded more than 10,170 confirmed infections and approximately 4,930 deaths since May, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounting for the overwhelming majority of cases.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya warned that efforts to contain the disease were falling short as the outbreak developed into a broader continental health emergency.
“We are not winning so far,” Kaseya said, calling for stronger cooperation among African governments.
He said health ministers had agreed to prepare their countries for potential infections, improve coordination across national boundaries and maintain open borders under heightened monitoring.
The outbreak, initially concentrated in the DRC, has also affected Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, raising concerns about further transmission across Central, East and West Africa.
Uganda, which recorded 20 confirmed cases, was declared free of Ebola in August following a successful containment effort. However, new infections in Kenya and an imported case in Nigeria have highlighted the continuing threat of cross-border transmission.
Kaseya said insecurity in affected regions, complex humanitarian emergencies and inadequate funding remained major obstacles to controlling the epidemic.
Ugandan Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi told the meeting that his country’s experience demonstrated the importance of early intervention, effective surveillance and decisive public health measures.
Health authorities have also warned that several neighbouring countries remain vulnerable to imported infections, including Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Angola, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised against blanket travel and trade restrictions, recommending stronger screening, contact tracing and coordination between neighbouring countries instead.
Africa CDC has urged governments to expand laboratory testing capacity, strengthen disease surveillance and ensure healthcare systems can rapidly identify and isolate suspected cases.
The agency warned that without sustained international support and coordinated regional action, the outbreak could place further pressure on already overstretched health systems across the continent.
