Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has warned that the current Ebola outbreak is "unprecedented" and could spread to countries such as the United Kingdom if urgent resources are not mobilised.
Kaseya highlighted the speed and scale of the epidemic, which has now reached 10,000 reported cases and almost 5,000 deaths. He drew a comparison with the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the virus has the potential to move beyond the continent and put global health systems at risk if not contained.
Funding and preparedness
The Africa CDC chief called for increased international funding to bolster surveillance, diagnostic capacity and treatment provision. He said investments are needed to strengthen health systems, accelerate access to therapies and vaccines where available, and ensure rapid detection and response to new cases to prevent wider spread.
Kaseya's comments underline concerns that without additional resources, the outbreak could follow a pattern of international dissemination similar to previous pandemics, placing pressure on both local health services and countries that currently have few or no cases. He urged coordinated action to improve readiness and to deploy possible treatments to affected areas.
The warning represents a plea for swift, collective action from governments and global health partners to reduce transmission, protect vulnerable populations and limit the risk of the disease crossing borders. The Africa CDC's appeal comes amid rising case and death totals in the affected regions and increasing calls for a stepped-up international response.