By Iyemah David
The Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has raised concern over the ongoing Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to regional and global health security.
The Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance said this on Thursday in a statement that it was closely monitoring the outbreak.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), while the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also classified it as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), underscoring the severity and cross-border implications of the outbreak.
According to Gavi, more than 500 suspected cases and over 130 deaths have been reported in the DRC, while confirmed infections have been detected in Kampala, Uganda, signalling ongoing transmission across porous borders in the region.
The Alliance noted that the outbreak is being driven by a mobile, conflict-affected, and hard-to-reach population, complicating containment efforts and increasing the risk of further spread.
It further warned that there are currently no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), describing the situation as “deeply concerning” for affected countries and the global community.
Gavi said it is coordinating with key global health partners, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), WHO, Africa CDC, UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Pandemic Fund, as well as national authorities in DRC and Uganda, to assess urgent needs and strengthen response efforts.
The Alliance added that discussions are ongoing on how best to support outbreak containment while ensuring that essential health services, particularly routine immunisation, are not disrupted during the emergency response.
Health experts said the outbreak highlights persistent gaps in outbreak preparedness in fragile settings and reinforces the need for stronger cross-border surveillance, rapid response systems, and sustained investment in epidemic readiness.
Efforts to scale up coordinated interventions are expected to intensify in the coming days as regional and global partners work to contain the spread of the virus.
