10 African countries at risk as Ebola spreads — Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has issued a stark warning, identifying 10 African nations at risk of being affected by the escalating Ebola outbreak spanning Central and East Africa. Jean Kaseya, the agency's head, highlighted "high mobility and insecurity" in the region as primary drivers accelerating the virus's transmission beyond the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The countries identified as being at risk include Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia. This alert comes in the wake of the World Health Organization designating the outbreak as an international emergency, a move underscoring the severity of the situation.

The outbreak, predominantly centered in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, has already resulted in hundreds of suspected cases and claimed over 170 lives, according to WHO figures. The Africa CDC further escalated concerns on May 18 by declaring the outbreak a "Public Health Emergency of Continental Security." This designation reflects fears of widespread regional transmission, exacerbated by ongoing insecurity, fragile health systems, and significant population movement across borders.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral disease. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and can rapidly lead to severe bleeding, organ failure, and death, making containment and swift public health responses critical.

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We have 10 countries at risk