Madar (Nouakchott) - The World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said on Thursday, October 22, 2026, that the continent is "facing a more complex outbreak landscape" after Nigeria confirmed an imported Ebola case, the first in West Africa since the current outbreak began, Africanews reported.
The warning comes as the epidemic reached an eighth province in DR Congo, where 9,552 confirmed cases and more than 4,600 deaths have been recorded since it was declared in mid-May, about 6 in 10 of them outside health facilities, according to the WHO.
From Uganda to Abuja
The Nigerian case is a woman diplomat who had travelled from Uganda, according to Africanews. She developed symptoms on October 7, four days after arriving, and was confirmed on October 20; 44 contacts are being followed, according to the WHO, which said the source of exposure remains unknown.
Nigeria thus becomes the fifth country to detect the disease this year, after DR Congo, France, Uganda and Kenya, which has recorded 9 cases, including one death, and traced 135 contacts.
A strain without a vaccine
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no licensed vaccine or treatment. The Ervebo vaccine targets the Zaire strain; a trial is under way in eastern Congo to test whether it protects against Bundibugyo, after the WHO approved 70,000 doses for use there in August, Africanews reported.
A continental response
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced a videoconference of African health ministers on Wednesday, October 28, ahead of a summit of heads of state and government chaired by African Union chairperson, Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye. "Ebola is crossing borders, and our response must move faster," its director general, Jean Kaseya, said.
Where does Mauritania stand?
On May 26, 2026, the Mauritanian government announced, in a joint statement by the ministries of foreign affairs, interior, health, and equipment and transport, stronger health surveillance at border posts and a national emergency cell bringing together the four sectors, in permanent session, to monitor the epidemic, raise awareness and coordinate with diplomatic missions on Mauritanian nationals in affected countries, the Mauritanian News Agency (AMI) reported.
The government also urged Mauritanians living in or travelling to affected countries to remain vigilant and follow health guidance. As of Friday morning, October 23, Madar had not found any new official Mauritanian announcement since the Nigerian case.
The Nigerian case recalls the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people and which Nigeria managed to contain on its territory at the time.
