From diagnostic gaps to community mistrust, the panel of global health leaders who gathered to discuss the Bundibugyo Ebola crisis agreed on one thing: the virus is beatable, but only if Africa stops waiting to be rescued.
As Kenya contends with the threat of Ebola spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda, global health experts are united on one point: the solution to stopping the Bundibugyo outbreak lies not in waiting for vaccines that do not yet exist, but in investing urgently in public health measures, community trust, and diagnostic capacity.
Speaking during a panel discussion on TRT World’s The Newsmakers programme, scientists and public health leaders warned that weak health systems, funding cuts, and delayed detection have allowed the outbreak to gain dangerous ground – and that Africa must take ownership of its own health security before the next crisis arrives.
The warning lands at a critical moment for Kenya. The country has just unveiled a record Ksh177.2 billion health budget aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, disease control, cancer care, and the health workforce. But for millions of Kenyans, a resilient health system will require more than budget announcements. It will require drugs consistently available on pharmacy shelves, accessible specialist care, and minimal out-of-pocket costs.
Dr Mercy Mwangangi, CEO of the Social Health Authority (SHA), has signalled a tougher era of accountability, warning that facilities found directing patients to pay cash for medicines while claiming reimbursement from public funds will face consequences.
On the Ebola response, the message from panellists was unambiguous. Dr Mercy Korir, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Willow Health Media, argued that proven public health tools – not technological solutions – must lead the response. “Public health countermeasures would do well in such an outbreak where the disease does not have vaccines or medicine,” she said.
Ebola presents as malaria and other diseases. The suspicion rate should be high to enable early detection
She called for empowering community health promoters to create awareness, enable early identification and detection, and offer care to the sick in isolation, rather than restricting movement. “Ebola presents as malaria and other diseases. The suspicion rate should be high to enable early detection,” Dr Korir noted.
Ayoade Alakija, Board Chair of FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, and WHO Special Envoy for Access to COVID-19 Tools, echoed that position bluntly. “The missing link is that the whole system, including countries and companies, is geared towards technological solutions, vaccines and treatments. We don’t have the nine, six or two months to wait. We need to contain the outbreak now,” she said.
Alakija pointed to the hard lessons from previous outbreaks. “Africa and the globe had learned from previous outbreaks from over a decade ago that it is possible to stop outbreaks within the communities by rolling out efficient diagnostic systems,” she said. “If we don’t do this, the diseases become outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics.”
She noted that Bundibugyo’s tendency to mimic malaria and other common diseases has delayed diagnosis and fuelled spread. “Proper identification of the disease in time helps stop the spread within the communities,” added Alakija, stressing that community trust and engagement remain the backbone of any effective response.
Prof Tulio de Oliveira, Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation and Professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, said the virus itself was not the primary concern. The context in which it was circulating was. “The Bundibugyo strain is less aggressive than the classic Ebola, but it is happening in a poor region with limited resources and in conflict for about a decade, a weak health system and a population traumatised by poverty and the disease,” he said.
Before the vaccines, we should detect, treat to increase survival rates and isolate the infected
Prof de Oliveira called on African scientists and the global community to rally around the response. “We have a genome, and now we need enough diagnostics. We need to help people trust the test and to present in the hospital early to protect themselves and the communities,” he said.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic acknowledged that the response had started from behind. “The disease presents symptoms that mimic other diseases. We didn’t have testing capacity, and it spread out fast,” he said. He noted that contact tracing was improving but still well short of what was needed to contain the outbreak, with the target set at 90 per cent. He welcomed the fact that local health authorities and Africa CDC were leading the response.
“Before the vaccines, we should detect, treat to increase survival rates and isolate the infected. Establishing trust to attain full cooperation and engagement of the local community is key,” Jasarevic said.
The panel also addressed the impact of health funding cuts and the US withdrawal from WHO, describing both as wake-up calls for the continent and the world. “It has a large impact. We have learnt that viruses don’t respect borders, even with severe travel restrictions. It’s a wake-up call to American decision makers on the importance of supporting global health, because more diseases emerging elsewhere, like hantavirus could still get to the US,” Prof de Oliveira said.
Withdrawal from working together opens doors for more epidemics. It is a wake-up call to think global
Alakija used the moment to renew pressure on African leaders to honour the 2001 Abuja Declaration, under which African Union member states pledged to allocate at least 15 per cent of their national budgets to health. “If we spent that on health, we wouldn’t be dependent on USAID. That’s my glimmer of hope,” she said.
Prof de Oliveira went further, warning that disengagement from global health collaboration creates conditions for more outbreaks. “Withdrawal from working together opens doors for more epidemics. It’s a wake-up call to think global,” he said.
The proposed US quarantine and early treatment facility in Kenya also drew comment. Dr Korir argued that protests against it were driven more by politics than by science. “Public health specialists viewing the facility from a long-term lens. It’s not just a bed and a room, but the whole infrastructure that can do surveillance, offer ICU care and treatment – hence a long-term investment to improve the capacity for Kenya and other countries, now and beyond this outbreak,” she said.
She added that the facility’s location within a military installation was designed to ensure strict precautions against any risk of spread.
The panellists closed by applauding the leadership shown by DRC, Uganda, and Africa CDC. Alakija summed up the broader imperative. “This is a first. It’s a lesson we’ve learnt from COVID-19 that we have to save ourselves first.”
