Health

Ebola readiness: WHO steps up support in 22 Eastern Mediterranean countries, with Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti first

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Ebola readiness is being strengthened across the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean region, the UN said on 16 October 2026, after deadly outbreaks caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and a confirmed case in Kenya linked to the DRC. The region covers 22 countries and territories, and WHO has named Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan as priority countries.

Ebola readiness: A nurse puts on protective gear before treating patients in eastern DR Congo (file photo)
A nurse puts on protective gear before treating patients in eastern DR Congo (file photo) Photo: © UNFPA DRC via UN News (editorial use with credit).

Why Ebola readiness is hard in this region

There have been no Ebola cases in the region so far, UN News reported. But conflict, displacement and overstretched health systems in several countries make it hard to prepare and respond if that changes. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the region this week as the epicentre of global humanitarian need, with more than 117 million people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere needing aid to survive. WHO said conflict, insecurity and restricted access add to the challenges, especially in countries already facing major emergencies, which makes early preparation even more urgent. WHO’s regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean published the same assessment.

Key Facts

  • Region: WHO Eastern Mediterranean, 22 countries and territories
  • Priority countries: Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan
  • Assessment missions: July-September 2026
  • Virus: Bundibugyo (outbreaks in DRC and Uganda; case in Kenya)
  • People needing aid in the region: 117 million+

“Conflict, insecurity and restricted access present additional challenges, particularly in countries already facing major humanitarian emergencies.”

— World Health Organization, via UN News

Missions to Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan

Between July and September, WHO sent missions to Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan to check national readiness and find gaps in disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, case management and emergency coordination. The agency is helping authorities close those gaps through training, technical support, medical supplies and simulation exercises. It has also produced regional readiness checklists, contingency planning tools and technical guidance, and is coordinating with countries in both Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. WHO has supplied laboratory materials, guidance for travellers and resources for community engagement, according to the UN agency. WHO’s regional office says Somalia has designated isolation facilities in Mogadishu, Garowe and Hargeisa and strengthened screening at borders, while Sudan has expanded surveillance and Djibouti has reviewed its response plans and trained staff.

Gaps that remain after the Ebola outbreak in Kenya

Despite the progress, WHO said gaps remain in early detection, laboratory confirmation and the availability of protective equipment and emergency funds. The concern grew after Kenya confirmed a second Ebola case linked to the outbreak in the DRC, which TrendDesh reported on 16 October. Bundibugyo is one of the virus species that cause Ebola disease, and outbreaks can spread along trade and travel routes when cases are missed. Work is continuing so that national authorities and partners can quickly detect, investigate and manage any suspected case. For travellers, the advice remains to follow national health guidance and report symptoms early.

Why It Matters: An Ebola case in a war-hit country with weak hospitals could spread fast, so preparing early is far cheaper than fighting an outbreak.

Also on TrendDesh: Kenya Ebola: second case confirmed in relative of first patient, WHO says no community spread · DR Congo cholera cases top 125,000 as the country also battles an Ebola outbreak, WHO warns

Source: UN News · WHO EMRO · WHO EMRO (Somalia)

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