The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has publicly endorsed the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) new response package to contain the expanding Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. In a statement released on Monday, the African Union’s specialized health agency praised DRC authorities for introducing what it described as a comprehensive set of “bold, innovative measures” to address the crisis.

The DRC’s strategy includes large-scale vaccination campaigns and a village-centered approach designed to identify every suspected Ebola case and death. The plan also emphasizes delivering protection, care, and reliable information to all affected communities. According to the latest figures from DRC health officials, the country has registered 4,381 confirmed cases and more than 2,000 deaths since declaring its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15, 2026.

The Africa CDC noted the outbreak’s rapid spread, which has grown from 11 health zones in a single province to 53 health zones across five provinces in less than three months. The agency warned that the pace of transmission is outstripping conventional containment efforts, with only about 10 percent of expected contacts identified and around 80 percent of new infections occurring outside known transmission chains.

The response package, developed by the DRC government and its partners, also addresses humanitarian needs such as the safe reopening of schools and improved coordination and financial accountability. The Africa CDC highlighted the importance of using the Ervebo vaccine, which offers potential cross-protection against the Bundibugyo Ebola strain, as the only currently available vaccination strategy. The agency called for rapid and widespread deployment of Ervebo to reduce severe illness and deaths, citing its established safety record and availability.

The Africa CDC’s support underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for coordinated action to prevent further spread of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, which continues to challenge health systems in the DRC and poses a risk to the wider region.