South Sudan has heightened its Ebola preparedness and surveillance measures following Kenya's confirmation of its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease. The national health system has been placed on high alert as the government monitors the regional situation. Caretaker Minister of Health Dak Duop Bichiok addressed journalists at a press conference in Juba, stating that the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation in the East African region.
Minister Bichiok emphasized that no confirmed Ebola cases have been reported in South Sudan. However, given the country's shared borders with Kenya and Uganda, and the high level of regional mobility and trade routes linked to the affected provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the national health system is on the highest state of alert. The Kenyan Ministry of Health confirmed its first imported case of Ebola virus disease on October 5, 2026, with the death of a Kenyan national who had previously lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The confirmation of the outbreak in Kenya has increased the risk of cross-border transmission, and the government has strengthened surveillance at points of entry. Minister Bichiok urged citizens to avoid physical contact with anyone showing signs or symptoms of Ebola and to maintain strict hand hygiene by regularly washing their hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. He also called on communities, religious and civil society organizations, private sectors, transport operators, and travelers to cooperate fully with health screening personnel at the borders.
Tolbert Geewleh Nyenswah, the Country Director for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), noted that South Sudan has made major progress in surveillance, disease detection, and outbreak response. He stated that the country has some level of capacity with surveillance, disease detection, and rapid response teams, and that laboratory testing is ongoing in South Sudan.
Ader Machar Achiek, Acting Executive Director of the Public Health Institute (PHI), said that South Sudan has established a rapid response mechanism and reactivated its surveillance system to strengthen preparedness and response to potential disease outbreaks. A national task force has been formed, and teams are on the ground, conducting screening at points of entry across the border, in 15 high-risk counties, as well as Juba International Airport.
Moses Ongom, the World Health Organization (WHO) officer in charge, stated that they are managing an Incident Management Support Team based in Kampala to coordinate and oversee the regional response. He noted that a cross-border meeting was organized over a month ago to put all the countries surrounding the Democratic Republic of Congo in place to control the spread of Ebola.
The preparedness level of South Sudan has progressively increased, with a current readiness capability of 65 percent, up from 45 percent in June. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Public Institute and partners, has worked hard to improve the country's readiness capabilities, with infectious disease units in place in most priority counties.
Key points
- South Sudan has heightened its Ebola preparedness and surveillance measures following Kenya's confirmation of its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease.
- The national health system has been placed on high alert, and surveillance has been strengthened at points of entry.
- South Sudan has made major progress in surveillance, disease detection, and outbreak response, with a current preparedness level of 65 percent.
