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African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Yusuf has called on member states and international partners to intensify support for countries affected by Ebola, warning that outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda are raising the risk of regional spread across the continent.
Yusuf acknowledged the swift response of both governments, their national health authorities, and frontline health workers, describing their efforts to contain the outbreaks as commendable.
He also expressed satisfaction with preparedness measures taken by neighboring countries, singling out South Sudan for particular recognition.
"Unity, coordination, and collective action will ensure the current outbreak is brought under control," Yusuf said, stressing that Africa has previously overcome major public health crises and can do so again.
The AU Commission chair noted that the bloc stands in full solidarity with the peoples and governments of the DRC and Uganda during the outbreak.
He called on all member states and partners to scale up preparedness, surveillance, and rapid response operations in affected and at-risk countries.
Yusuf said the AU is supporting continental response efforts led by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), which are being carried out in coordination with member states, the World Health Organization (WHO), humanitarian organizations, and donors.
Africa CDC previously confirmed that 87 people had died in an Ebola outbreak in the Ituri province in eastern DRC.
The WHO subsequently declared the situation an international public health emergency after the virus was detected in a person arriving in Uganda from the DRC.
Yusuf underlined that protecting the people of Africa and securing the continent's health safety remain top priorities for the AU, urging partners to treat the outbreaks with the urgency they require.
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