Africa CDC Praises Kenya's Quick Ebola Response

The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has praised Kenya's swift and efficient Ebola containment progress as a continental model against the ongoing multi-country outbreak. As of now, cumulative confirmed cases have surpassed 10,600, with a mounting death toll. Wessam Mankoula, an Africa CDC official, addressed an online press briefing, warning about the continued Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak's progress, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

According to the Africa CDC, confirmed cases in the ongoing multi-country Ebola outbreak have reached 10,699, with over 5,202 deaths and a case fatality rate of 48.6 per cent. About 2,900 patients have recovered from the disease. At week 25, the crisis has evolved into the fastest-growing and second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, with twice as many cases and deaths as its next-highest comparator, the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak.

Mankoula expressed concern over critical gaps in key response pillars, including infection prevention and control, case management, and logistics, citing a recent joint survey by the Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation that assessed Ebola readiness across 31 African countries. He emphasized that countries should invest in preparedness and readiness, having a strong surveillance system, screening at points of entry, laboratory capacities, and designated facilities to treat the first few cases.

Kenya reported its first imported case on October 6 and has since reported nine confirmed cases and two deaths. The country recorded nine cases out of 669 samples tested, marking a test positivity rate of 1.35 per cent. Kenya has not reported a new case since October 19, and the first five patients have been discharged from treatment centres. Mankoula acknowledged Kenya's contact follow-up and surveillance efforts, noting that the country will start a 42-day countdown once the last patient recovers.

Mankoula commended the Kenyan authorities for early detection and containing the imported outbreak quickly by identifying all possible contacts and putting them under quarantine. He added that contacts who had left Kenya were also communicated with the countries where those contacts travelled to. Mankoula stated that Kenya is showing a good model on how to contain an Ebola outbreak, emphasizing that investing in preparedness and readiness enabled Kenya to respond quickly and efficiently.

The African Union's specialised continental public health agency has called for an immediate release of pledged funds before the outbreak escalates into a wider crisis. Mankoula noted that only about $1 billion of the overall $3 billion pledged amount has been disbursed by donors so far. He urged donors to accelerate funding to support the response and continue investing in preparedness capacity.

The Africa CDC declared the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of continental security on May 18. Beyond the four affected African countries, 10 other nations have been designated as high-risk, including South Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia, and Somalia. Ebola is highly contagious and can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and internal and external bleeding in severe cases.

Key points

• Kenya's quick response and efficient containment efforts serve as a continental model against the ongoing multi-country Ebola outbreak.
• The Africa CDC urges donors to accelerate funding to support the response, with only $1 billion of the $3 billion pledged amount disbursed so far.
• The ongoing multi-country Ebola outbreak has resulted in 10,699 confirmed cases and over 5,202 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 48.6 per cent.