Africa’s ‘unprecedented’ Ebola outbreak could reach UK, says top health official
A top health official from the Africa CDC has warned that the current unprecedented Ebola outbreak could spread globally if international preparedness and funding are not increased. The official drew parallels to the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Why it matters
The warning underscores the risks of localized health crises becoming global pandemics due to insufficient international cooperation and resource allocation.
A map showing countries affected by active Ebola outbreaks at the headquarters of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Abuja. A map showing countries affected by active Ebola outbreaks at the headquarters of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Abuja. Global development Africa’s ‘unprecedented’ Ebola outbreak could reach UK, says top health official Jean Kaseya, of the Africa CDC, warns of the illness spreading like Covid unless more funding is secured to increase preparedness and possible treatment
About this content Sarah Johnson Wed 28 Oct 2026 09.37 GMT Last modified on Wed 28 Oct 2026 09.40 GMT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google The “unprecedented” spread of the Ebola outbreak means it could reach the UK and other countries, according to one of Africa’s top health officials.
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