The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director-General, Dr Jean Kaseya, has warned that Africa is losing ground in the fight against Ebola, citing 10,172 confirmed cases and 4,932 deaths, as he urged more than 40 African health ministers to strengthen preparedness and coordinate the continental response.

In a post on X, the director-general said he had delivered the warning to more than 40 African health ministers, urging countries to strengthen preparedness and coordinate their response to prevent the outbreak from escalating further.

“Yesterday I stood before more than 40 African ministers and said what the data tells us: we are not winning so far. 10,172 confirmed cases. 4,932 people have gone,” he said.

He warned that the consequences of an uncontrolled Ebola outbreak extend beyond deaths and infections, pointing to the lasting social and economic damage caused by the 2014–2016 West African epidemic.

During that outbreak, around five million children were kept out of school, approximately 23,000 children lost their parents, and nearly US$3 billion in gross domestic product was lost, according to figures he shared with the ministers.

“I shared these numbers with Africa’s health ministers so that we never pay that price again. The data is hard to hear, but it is also our best chance to change course,” he said.

The director-general stated that the ministers had agreed to prepare each country for potential cases, improve cross-border coordination, and keep borders open while under close surveillance.

He added that international partners were supporting Africa’s response plan, expressing hope that a coordinated continental effort would help countries respond more effectively.

“Ebola anywhere in Africa demands preparedness everywhere in Africa. We will get there, together,” he said.

The warning highlights the need for African countries to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and cross-border cooperation, while minimising disruptions to education, livelihoods and national economies.

The Africa CDC chief said confronting the outbreak with transparency and coordinated action was essential to avoiding the devastating consequences experienced during previous Ebola epidemics.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak, followed by Kenya, which has nine confirmed cases and two deaths. Nigeria’s first case was evacuated to Switzerland.