The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned that the Ebola outbreak affecting parts of the continent remains uncontrolled, with more than 10,200 confirmed cases and over 5,000 deaths recorded.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya, disclosed this on Friday, October 30, 2026, during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme, expressing concern over the continued spread of the disease and changes in its geographical distribution.
Kaseya said the assessment followed a review of the latest epidemiological data during a virtual ministerial meeting held on October 28, which brought together more than 42 ministers and over 600 participants, including representatives of international organisations and development partners.
According to him, the meeting examined the outbreak’s progression, the number of infections and deaths, and ongoing efforts to contain the disease across affected countries.
“We analysed the data and we saw that the outbreak is not yet under control,” Kaseya said.
He explained that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remained the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for the overwhelming majority of confirmed infections.
“We have achieved what is a number of 10,000 people confirmed cases in DRC and also, if we put together, it’s more than 10,200 confirmed cases across the continent,” he stated.
The Africa CDC Director-General also expressed concern about the rising death toll.
“We also saw that we have more than 5,000 people already passed on due to this outbreak,” he added.
Kaseya further warned that the geographical distribution of infections was changing, raising concerns about the possibility of continued transmission beyond the areas initially affected.
The outbreak, attributed to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has affected several African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Nigeria.
The DRC remains the worst-affected country, with data attributed to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control indicating that it had recorded 10,193 confirmed cases and 4,960 deaths as of October 28, 2026.
Kenya has also recorded nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, following an imported infection linked to the DRC.
Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade on October 20, 2026, after a 42-year-old Swiss woman tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain in Abuja.
The woman had travelled from Uganda to Nigeria before the infection was detected.
Following confirmation of the case, Nigerian health authorities isolated the patient and commenced treatment while initiating contact tracing and other public health measures to prevent further transmission.
The patient was subsequently evacuated to Switzerland for further treatment on October 26 after her condition stabilised.
Her husband, who was identified as a close contact, was also evacuated.
Following their evacuation, the World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, stated that Nigeria had no confirmed Ebola patients remaining in the country.
However, the WHO clarified that the development did not mean Nigeria had been officially declared Ebola-free.
The organisation explained that health authorities were still monitoring individuals who had come into contact with the infected patient and that the required 42-day monitoring period must be completed before such a declaration could be made.
The distinction is important because the absence of a confirmed patient receiving treatment does not necessarily establish that the risk of further transmission has ended.
According to a situation report issued on October 29 by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), 62 contacts linked to the index case had been identified and were undergoing monitoring.
The agency disclosed that no new contacts or symptomatic contacts had been identified during the preceding 24 hours.
The development suggests that Nigeria’s immediate response has focused on identifying individuals potentially exposed to the virus and monitoring them for symptoms during the relevant period.
Despite the absence of additional confirmed infections in Nigeria, the Africa CDC’s latest assessment indicates that the wider continental outbreak remains a public health concern.
The Ebola virus disease is a severe infectious illness that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected persons, as well as contaminated materials.
Symptoms may include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, bleeding.
Early identification, isolation, supportive treatment, contact tracing and appropriate infection-prevention measures are essential components of outbreak control.
The Africa CDC’s warning comes as health authorities and international partners continue efforts to contain transmission, manage infected patients and prevent the disease from spreading to additional communities.
Kaseya’s assessment underscores the need for continued surveillance and coordinated public health responses across affected countries.
While Nigeria has not recorded another confirmed case in the information provided by health authorities, the country remains under monitoring following the imported infection.
Post Title: “Ebola Outbreak Is Not Yet Under Control” — Africa CDC Warns As Confirmed Cases Exceed 10,200, Death Toll Surpasses 5,000 By Naijaonpoint.