Health ministers from East African Community (EAC) member states have agreed on a set of strengthened regional measures aimed at containing and preventing the spread of Ebola, as outbreaks persist in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The resolutions were adopted during the eighth extraordinary ministerial meeting on Ebola, held virtually from June 1 to 2, 2026, bringing together senior health officials from across the region to coordinate a joint response.
A key outcome of the meeting was the harmonisation of Ebola surveillance and response protocols at airports, seaports, and all official border crossings across EAC member states, aimed at closing gaps in cross-border monitoring.
The ministers also agreed to establish a regional technical task force to oversee coordination, enhance data sharing, and support rapid decision-making as the outbreak evolves.
In a further measure, the meeting approved the deployment of nine mobile laboratory units to high-risk border points and major transit corridors to improve rapid testing capacity and early detection of suspected cases.
Member states also committed to accelerating regulatory processes for the approval and deployment of Ebola vaccines and treatment protocols as part of strengthened regional preparedness.
The outbreak remains active in the region. As of June 1, 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo had reported 344 confirmed cases, alongside more than 1,000 suspected infections.
Health authorities in the DRC also reported 139 deaths among suspected cases, while over 60 fatalities have been confirmed through laboratory testing.
In Uganda, 15 cases have been confirmed so far, with one death reported.
Officials warned that the continued transmission in the two countries highlights the urgency of coordinated regional action, particularly in border communities where population movement remains high.
The EAC said the agreed measures are intended to strengthen early detection, improve response capacity, and reduce the risk of cross-border transmission across the region.
