Africa CDC seeks global help as Nigeria reports Ebola case

After Nigeria confirmed an Ebola case, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has asked for urgent global assistance for the country.

The Director-General, Jean Kaseya, made this appeal on the agency’s official X account on Tuesday.

Mr Kaseya also called on partners to provide immediate funding, medical supplies, diagnostic tools, and trained emergency responders.

He said the request came after a talk with Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, who shared the news of the confirmed case.

He praised Mr Pate for his openness and leadership, noting that reporting outbreaks early is key to saving lives and improving public health responses.

Urgent Appeal for Support

The Africa CDC leader urged the international community to give quick and flexible funding, medical supplies, diagnostic tools, trained responders, and stronger community-based surveillance to control the outbreak.

He warned that the outbreak should not spread to other countries or last for another year. He stressed that delays in response could lead to more deaths.

"My appeal to the international community is urgent: ACT NOW," he said.

"We need immediate, flexible financing, medical supplies, diagnostics, trained responders, and stronger community-based surveillance. We cannot allow this outbreak to spread to more countries or continue for another year.

"Every day of delay costs lives. Africa’s health security is global health security.

"Stopping Ebola in Africa today means protecting the world. Nigeria has our full solidarity. Together, we must defeat this outbreak," he said.

Ongoing Efforts

Mr Kaseya mentioned that Africa CDC has started mobilising support for Nigeria while also strengthening response efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Kenya. They are keeping a close watch in Uganda.

He pointed out that this outbreak has become the widest-spread Ebola outbreak ever, affecting several countries in three African regions.

He recalled that Africa CDC announced the outbreak on 15 May, warning about its regional impact and potential threats to public health security.

Mr Kaseya noted that the situation is particularly serious in DRC, where the death rate is close to 50 percent.

He highlighted that Africa’s health security is closely linked to global health security and called for better international cooperation to stop the outbreak and prevent further spread.

He reiterated Africa CDC’s support for Nigeria, urging countries and development partners to collaborate in defeating the outbreak and safeguarding populations across the continent.