JONATHAN M/ METSCH, Dr.P.H. – Tracking Emerging Public Health Challenges – June 23, 2026 -Ebola
“The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) could become the worst ever if the response to the outbreak is not ramped up quickly, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said.”
“Despite the urgent need to contain the outbreak, thousands of case contacts have not been traced, said Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC.
“If we don’t stop the outbreak very soon it will be worse than we had in West Africa and eastern DRC,” Kaseya said.
If critical gaps in the response are not tackled quickly, getting the virus under control could cost billions of dollars, he warned.”
“Africa CDC estimated that it needed 540 personnel to fight the outbreak, and so far it has secured 84.”
“Cases are being detected in new areas in the affected DRC provinces on a “near daily” basis, World Health Organization officials have also said.
Bruno Michon, operations manager for the International Federation of Red Cross, said on 16 June that the outbreak had yet to peak.
“We are afraid that this could last one year to end this disease,” Michon told reporters. (1)
“Health officials say that the Ebola outbreak in East Africa could become one of the worst ever recorded unless the response ramps up. There have been signs of improvement, but many hurdles remain. Here’s what will determine how fast the epidemic can be contained.
How widespread is testing?
Limited testing meant missed cases early on, though things are improving.
Can infected people be traced and isolated?
More Ebola exposures are being tracked, but blind spots remain.
When will vaccines and treatment become available?
Testing and approving vaccines and treatments could take several months or more.
How far might the infection travel?
Global spread appears very unlikely. Spread within the highly mobile affected region is much more likely.
How deadly is the virus?
It’s not clear yet, but this Ebola species may be less deadly than others.” (2(
“In a recent study published in the journal Eurosurveillance, researchers re-evaluated the threat of global Ebola virus transmission. The study analyzed historical data from 1976 through May 2026 to elucidate whether the recent outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease, caused by Bundibugyo virus, an orthoebolavirus that causes Ebola disease, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026 could be viewed as a cause for global concern.”
“The study findings revealed that, across the entire 50-year period of included data, only 28 confirmed Ebola cases linked to epidemics could be identified outside Africa. Analyses of these cases further demonstrated that true spontaneous spread is even rarer than it appears.
“The vast majority of the 28 cases identified were traced back to people with known occupational or outbreak-response exposure, including healthcare workers, United Nations employees, and a journalist; most medical evacuations involved healthcare or response workers transported under pre-arranged arrangements.”
The study concluded that the most efficient means of preventing the spread of Ebola and similar pathogens outside their native range is to suppress outbreaks directly at the original source, especially through local, community-based case management and infection prevention and control measures.” (3)
“Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has halted construction of the U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base after being found in contempt of court for allowing work to continue despite a court order.”
“Last month, the White House confirmed the U.S. was setting up a health facility in Kenya to receive Americans who were exposed to Ebola in regions affected by the outgoing outbreak.”
“An administration official said at the time that the U.S. was establishing a “state-of-the-art facility” in Kenya “through a coordinated effort with the Departments of State, Health and Human Services and War.”
The official said the purpose of the 50-bed facility would be to “provide access to high-quality care for Americans who would need to quickly get out” of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to quarantine, and argued that it would cut down on the “risks of a lengthy transport back to the U.S.” The proposal was support by Kenya’s President William Ruto.” (4)
“Empty, at least for now, is the Omaha-based National Quarantine Unit that for six weeks hosted American cruise ship passengers exposed to a deadly hantavirus.”
“To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm no related cases in the U.S. As reported previously, three people died, two while on the Dutch polar expedition ship and one at a clinic in South Africa. Several others got sick and the world was on alert.”
“Asked about whether local quarantine space might ever expand beyond the existing 20-bed capacity, Gold took the podium and discussed UNMC’s planned 1.56 million-square-foot Project Health teaching and hospital care complex. He said discussions are underway with federal partners including the Departments of War and Health and Human Services as to whether they want additional space in or adjoining the $2.19 billion facility to be funded by public and private sources.
Said Gold: “Those conversations are ongoing right now, perhaps even more acutely precipitated not only by the hantavirus experience … but also by what’s going on in western Africa right now.”
He said the Ebola outbreak should be “on all of our radars given the rapidly expanding numbers.” (5)
HHS has sent drug for Ebola clinical trial, By Theresa Gaffney and Helen Branswell, https://www.statnews.com/2026/06/23/health-news-hhs-sent-drug-for-ebola-clinical-trial/
1.Ebola: We are losing arms race against virus amid funding and tracing struggles, experts warn, by Luke Taylor, https://www.bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-100045
2.How Bad Could the Ebola Outbreak Get? Here Are 5 Key Factors., By Stephanie Nolen, Samuel Granados, Amy Schoenfeld Walker, Carl Zimmer and Apoorva Mandavilli Ju, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/06/23/world/africa/ebola-virus-outbreak-update.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
3.50-year review shows global Ebola spread remains rare despite outbreak fears, By Hugo Francisco de Souza, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260623/50-year-review-shows-global-Ebola-spread-remains-rare-despite-outbreak-fears.aspx
4.Kenya minister stops construction of US-backed Ebola quarantine facility, By Dada Jovanovic and Mary Kekatos, https://abcnews.com/Health/kenya-minister-stops-construction-us-backed-ebola-quarantine/story?id=134126788
5.UNMC hantavirus operation wraps up, team ready if Ebola outbreak calls, By Cindy Gonzalez, https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/unmc-hantavirus-operation-wraps-team-ready-if-ebola-outbreak-calls
curated by Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H.
Clinical Professor of Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai