The confirmation of Ebola cases in Kenya and Nigeria, amid an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is intensifying calls for regional cooperation, faster disease surveillance and greater investment in community health services to prevent further transmission.
The DRC continues to bear the heaviest burden of the outbreak, with more than 9,700 confirmed cases and over 4,600 deaths, according to figures provided by humanitarian organisations. In eastern DRC, conflict, population displacement and overstretched health services are complicating efforts to reach affected communities, while insecurity and cross-border movement increase the risk of further spread.
The emergence of cases beyond the DRC highlights the importance of early detection, contact tracing and coordinated public health measures across borders. Health authorities and humanitarian organisations say the effectiveness of the response will depend not only on medical interventions but also on the ability to build trust with communities that have become increasingly sceptical of disease-control efforts.
“The confirmation of Ebola in Kenya and Nigeria is deeply concerning and reinforces the need for countries to work closely together to prevent further transmission,” said Melaku Yirga, vice president for Africa at Prosper Global, formerly Mercy Corps.
“From our experience combating Ebola in Africa, we know that containing it takes governments, health workers, and communities working together. We welcome the efforts of national health authorities and Africa CDC to strengthen regional cooperation. What matters most now is speed, sharing information across borders without delay and ensuring frontline health workers and local organizations have the resources to respond quickly.”
Yirga said community confidence was essential to ensuring people reported suspected infections, cooperated with contact tracers and sought medical care early.
“We also know that trust at the community level is essential to stopping transmission. People need to feel confident reporting suspected cases, sharing information with contact tracers, and seeking care early. That confidence grows when trusted local responders and community leaders listen to concerns, answer questions, and help people access timely support.”
The outbreak underscores the challenges of controlling a highly infectious disease in areas where health infrastructure is weak and communities face insecurity, displacement and limited access to essential services.
Ebola virus disease can cause severe illness and death, with transmission occurring through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people and contaminated materials. Early identification, isolation of suspected cases, contact tracing and infection prevention measures are central to limiting transmission.
The World Health Organization has historically reported case fatality rates of around 50% for Ebola virus disease, although rates vary by outbreak, access to treatment and the timing of medical intervention. The 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, the largest on record, resulted in more than 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths, according to WHO data.
The scale of the current outbreak in the DRC, combined with the confirmation of infections in other countries, is raising concerns about the capacity of health systems to respond quickly enough to contain the virus.
COMMUNITY TRUST EMERGES AS CRITICAL BARRIER
Humanitarian organisations say mistrust of health authorities and Ebola response teams is undermining efforts to contain the outbreak in eastern DRC, where communities have faced years of conflict and repeated disease emergencies.
An International Rescue Committee (IRC) survey of 80 people across three health zones found that nearly all respondents were aware of Ebola, but 85% said mistrust of response teams would prevent them from seeking care.
Respondents cited rumours that the Ebola response was intended to exterminate the population, allegations that some nurses directed patients towards their private pharmacies, and perceptions that Ebola treatment centres were places where people went to die rather than recover.
“People understand Ebola. That is not why they are rejecting the response,” said Katie Thomas-Canfield, IRC Ebola response director.
“Health authorities and community leaders keep telling us that community resistance is partly driven by a slow start to the response, communication that focuses only on Ebola and overlooks people’s other urgent needs, and too little involvement of young people and community groups. As we expand our response into the Grand Nord Kivu region, our success will depend as much on rebuilding community trust as on how well we protect people from infection and keep them informed.”
The findings highlight the importance of community engagement in disease control, particularly in areas where misinformation and distrust can delay treatment and increase the risk of transmission.
The IRC said that in North Kivu, 86% of Ebola deaths were occurring in communities, where patients were delaying or avoiding treatment because of fear and mistrust.
Children are also disproportionately affected. UNICEF data cited by the IRC showed that children under five accounted for 23% of cases in North Kivu and had a mortality rate of 70%, compared with 48.2% overall.
The organisation said the majority of child deaths occurred at home, while parents’ fears of separation from their children at treatment centres could further delay access to care.
The IRC said it was expanding its response in Beni and Butembo, in North Kivu, with measures including training healthcare workers in infection prevention and control, improving patient triage and referral systems, restoring handwashing facilities and ensuring the availability of protective equipment.
It is also strengthening waste management, linen handling and procedures for managing occupational exposure among health workers.
REGIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND FUNDING
The spread of Ebola beyond the DRC has placed renewed attention on preparedness in neighbouring countries, including Kenya and Uganda, where border communities and transport corridors could play an important role in detecting infections.
In Kenya, the IRC is supporting the Ministry of Health’s screening and response activities at border crossings and transport corridors, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and 13 high-risk counties.
Its work includes strengthening screening at entry points, tracing contacts of confirmed cases, communicating public health information and providing protective equipment and training to frontline health workers.
“Kenya has a chance to stay ahead of an Ebola outbreak in the country,” said Irene Bosire, IRC deputy director of programs in Kenya. “We must act fast, stopping any potential spread here and at its source in eastern DRC.”
The IRC called for continued funding for contact tracing, border screening and training of frontline health workers in Kenya, alongside expanded community engagement in the DRC.
Prosper Global is supporting the government-led Ebola response in Bunia and Rwampara, in Ituri province, building on its experience during the 2018-2020 outbreak in North Kivu.
Its teams are working to strengthen community engagement, improve access to clean water and handwashing facilities, and support infection prevention measures. The organisation is also using local radio messaging and providing psychosocial support to frontline workers and affected families.
In Uganda, Prosper Global is supporting preparedness in border communities in Kasese, including Bwera, as well as Bundibugyo and Yumbe. Its activities include working with market vendors, motorcycle taxi riders, community leaders and local media to promote awareness, early reporting of suspected cases and community dialogue.
Yirga said international partners had a critical role in sustaining the response, particularly in areas where transmission remained high.
“International partners also have an important role to play in sustaining these efforts. Timely, flexible funding for frontline health services, local responders, and infection prevention, particularly where transmission remains high in DRC, will help ensure communities have the support they need to prevent further infections.”
The IRC said it had been responding in the DRC since the outbreak was declared on May 15, working with the Ministry of Health in Ituri and North Kivu to maintain basic healthcare services, protect health workers and patients, strengthen community trust and provide protection and mental health support through mobile health teams.
The organisations said sustained funding was needed to support local responders, strengthen surveillance and ensure that communities could access healthcare before infections spread further.
The response, they said, would depend on governments sharing information quickly, health workers having the resources to identify and treat cases, and communities trusting the people delivering public health services.
Stay ahead of the Stories shaping our world. Subscribe to Impact Newswire and join our
WhatsApp Channel for updates on global tech, business, and innovation—all in one place.
Dive deeper into the future with the Cause Effect 4.0 Podcast, where we explore the ideas, trends, and technologies driving the global AI conversation.
Got a story to share? Contact Us to reach a global audience with Impact Newswire.
Mohd Hassan has extensive experience in news gathering, editing, and writing for the newswire industry, Contact – Info@impactnews-wire.com
Discover more from Impact Newswire
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
