The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is strengthening Ebola preparedness measures across countries in the Americas following the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization. The alert is linked to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, reported on 4 June 2026.
Although no Ebola cases have been detected in the Americas and the regional risk remains low, PAHO has activated its Incident Management System to coordinate preparedness efforts across member states. The focus is on ensuring countries can rapidly detect, isolate, and manage any potential imported cases.
PAHO is working with national health ministries to reinforce surveillance systems, laboratory diagnostic capacity, infection prevention and control measures, and emergency coordination structures. These steps are intended to improve readiness across the region and protect health workers and communities in the event of imported infections.
The organization has also convened technical exchanges with support from the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), bringing together experts from institutions such as Médecins Sans Frontières, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Oxford. These sessions have focused on key outbreak response areas including clinical management, biosafety, contact tracing, and safe burial practices.
To further support preparedness, PAHO has issued technical guidance on laboratory handling of potentially infectious samples and is coordinating the distribution of materials needed for molecular testing of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus. It is also helping countries estimate and pre-position critical supplies such as personal protective equipment and diagnostic tools.
In addition, PAHO is facilitating international collaboration for laboratory testing and reinforcing the use of digital surveillance tools like Go.Data to improve contact tracing and outbreak monitoring. These systems are designed to enhance coordination during health emergencies and improve response speed.
The Ebola outbreak in Africa continues to evolve, with hundreds of confirmed cases reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and additional cases in Uganda. The World Health Organization has assessed the risk as very high at the national level in affected countries but low globally.
Health authorities emphasize that while the disease is severe and transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, strong public health measures—including surveillance, isolation, and community engagement—remain the most effective tools for containment. No vaccines or specific treatments are currently available for the Bundibugyo strain, making early detection and supportive care critical.
PAHO has reiterated that countries should strengthen preparedness without imposing unnecessary travel or trade restrictions, which could disrupt response efforts without reducing risk.
