The Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) has commended Kenya’s decisive leadership and swift response to the Ebola outbreak, and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country’s containment efforts and safeguarding continental health security.

In a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, for a briefing on the response measures to control the outbreak, Dr Jean Kaseya, the Africa CDC Director-General (DG), praised the Government of Kenya for its strong political leadership, rapid mobilisation and effective containment measures, highlighting the importance of early detection, timely interventions, robust surveillance, and coordinated national action in limiting transmission and protecting lives.

“Kenya’s response underscores the critical role of national ownership and leadership in addressing public health emergencies,” asserted the DG in a press statement.

In solidarity with Kenya, Dr. Kaseya announced that Africa CDC has mobilised approximately US$1.5 million in financial, technical, and operational support, to reinforce national response efforts, including the deployment of 10 African public health experts, the provision of laboratory reagents and diagnostic test kits, and support for surveillance, contact tracing, case management and community engagement.

Further, he added that Africa CDC is also providing State-of-the-Art equipment valued at approximately US$350,000, to strengthen Kenya’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and its capacity to coordinate public health emergencies.

Dr. Kaseya re-affirmed Africa CDC’s commitment to working closely with the Government of Kenya, recognising that the country’s leadership and containment efforts are essential not only to protecting its population, but also to reducing the risk of further transmission across borders.

Both leaders underscored that no country can confront a public health emergency alone. Strong national responses, backed by continental solidarity, timely resource mobilisation and coordinated action, remain essential to protecting Africa’s collective health security.

Dr. Kaseya revealed that Africa CDC has convened an Extraordinary Meeting of African Ministers of Health on 28 October 2026, to assess the evolving Ebola situation, reinforce continental coordination, and agree on urgent measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.

The DG maintained that Africa’s health security is a shared responsibility. He reiterated that Kenya’s leadership and containment efforts demonstrate the importance of decisive national action, while Africa CDC’s support reflects the power of African solidarity.

“Together, we can contain outbreaks, protect lives and build a healthier, safer and more resilient continent,” Dr. Kaseya assured.

By Michael Omondi