## Proactive Steps in the Americas Amidst African Ebola Outbreak ThePan American Health Organization (PAHO) is taking significant steps to fortify health systems across the Americas, ensuring countries are well-prepared for any potential encounter with the Ebola virus. This robust regional effort comes in the wake of a World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) concerning an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. While the current risk of Ebola reaching the Americas remains low, and no cases have been reported in the region, PAHO emphasizes that preparedness is the most potent defense. This proactive stance aims to safeguard public health and minimize the impact should an imported case arise, reflecting a global interconnectedness where health challenges in one region can have distant echoes. ## Understanding the Ebola Virus Disease Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. It is caused by one of several Ebola virus species. The current outbreak in Africa is specifically linked to the Bundibugyo ebolavirus. Ebola is not an airborne disease; it spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids (such as urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of an infected person who is showing symptoms. It can also spread through contact with contaminated objects like needles or medical equipment. Initial symptoms often resemble other common illnesses, including fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, and fatigue. These can progress rapidly to vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. The incubation period – the time from infection to the onset of symptoms – can range from 2 to 21 days. While there are licensed vaccines and therapeutics for some Ebola strains, for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, effective early supportive care, including rehydration and symptom management, is critical for improving survival rates. ## PAHO's Comprehensive Preparedness Strategy To coordinate its extensive efforts, PAHO has activated its Incident Management System (IMS), a structured approach to managing health emergencies. This system facilitates a harmonized regional response, bringing together ministries of health and partner organizations. The core of PAHO's strategy involves reinforcing several critical areas: * **Enhanced Surveillance:** Strengthening the ability of countries to quickly identify and report suspected cases, particularly among travelers arriving from affected regions. This includes vigilant monitoring for febrile illnesses and robust reporting mechanisms. * **Laboratory Diagnostics:** Boosting the capacity of national laboratories to accurately and rapidly detect the Ebola virus. This involves ensuring proper biosafety measures for handling potentially infected samples and providing essential materials like reagents for molecular detection of the Bundibugyo virus. * **Infection Prevention and Control (IPC):** Implementing stringent measures in healthcare settings to protect health workers and prevent the spread of the virus. This includes proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe waste management, and decontamination procedures. * **Operational Coordination:** Streamlining communication and collaboration among health authorities, border agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure a swift and unified response. ## Global Collaboration and Expert Training PAHO is not working in isolation. It is actively collaborating with the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a WHO-coordinated network of technical institutions and partners dedicated to international outbreak response. This partnership is vital for sharing expertise and resources. Recently, PAHO organized a crucial technical session that brought together nearly 400 professionals from 30 countries across the Americas. These participants, including national experts and representatives from GOARN partner institutions, engaged in in-depth discussions on essential preparedness actions. Key topics covered included best practices in laboratory diagnosis and biosafety, effective clinical management of Ebola patients, rigorous infection prevention and control protocols, safe medical evacuation procedures, and the critical importance of safe and dignified burials. Esteemed experts from various international organizations, including WHO, Johns Hopkins University/NETEC, Emory University/NETEC, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), ISARIC/University of Oxford, and the University of São Paulo Hospital, contributed their knowledge. A follow-up session is planned to further strengthen these networks, discussing opportunities for technical support and the deployment of national experts from the Americas to assist in outbreak responses globally. This session will also highlight Go.Data, a digital tool developed by WHO and GOARN, for enhanced surveillance and contact tracing, drawing lessons from past outbreaks like measles in Brazil and Ebola in Uganda. ## Equipping Countries with Tools and Supplies Beyond training, PAHO is providing tangible support. The organization has developed comprehensive technical guidance documents, offering practical, step-by-step instructions on the safe collection, handling, packaging, and transport of potentially infected samples, as well as laboratory processing and inactivation procedures. These guidelines are crucial for strengthening biosafety and diagnostic capabilities in laboratories throughout the region. Furthermore, PAHO is preparing shipments of vital materials, including reagents specifically designed for the molecular detection of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, to selected countries based on careful risk assessments and existing biosafety capacities. The organization also facilitates international collaboration for timely laboratory analysis, as demonstrated by a recent instance where samples from the Bahamas were rapidly referred to a specialized PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre in the United States after travelers with recent travel history in affected areas were identified. Although the individuals tested negative, this prompt action underscores the importance of a robust referral system. PAHO is also assisting countries in developing detailed regional risk scenarios and planning for essential supplies. This includes providing tools to estimate the quantities and specifications of critical items like personal protective equipment, laboratory materials, and other necessities for various scenarios, from initial triage to patient care, cleaning, transport, and safe burials. This proactive approach supports advanced procurement and stockpiling, ensuring readiness while promoting effective infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. ## The Ebola Situation in Africa As of early June 2026, the outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus continues to evolve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. In the DRC, authorities have reported 344 confirmed cases and 60 confirmed deaths, with an additional 116 suspected cases under investigation across several provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. Uganda has recorded 15 confirmed cases, including one death, with infections reported in two districts and among healthcare workers. The WHO assesses the risk of this outbreak as very high at the national level within the affected countries, high at the regional level across Africa, but remains low at the global level. This assessment underscores the necessity for vigilance and preparedness, even in regions with low direct risk. ## International Travel and Health Advice In line with recommendations under the International Health Regulations (2005), PAHO emphasizes that countries should enhance their preparedness systems without imposing unnecessary restrictions on international travel or trade. Such generalized restrictions are generally discouraged by WHO, as they can hinder vital response efforts and disrupt supply chains without effectively reducing health risks. Instead, countries not currently affected by the outbreak are advised to focus on practical measures: strengthening the detection and management of travelers presenting with febrile illnesses, improving communication with transport and border authorities, providing clear information to travelers about symptoms and when to seek medical care, and ensuring rapid reporting of any suspected cases. PAHO continues its dedicated work with countries across the Americas, reinforcing health systems and fostering strong coordination with global partners. This ensures that the region remains prepared and resilient, ready to protect its populations against any potential public health threats like Ebola.