On Wednesday 3 June, members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT) organised an exchange between representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission on the international response to the Ebola epidemic caused by the Bundibugyo strain affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Speaking by videoconference, Rob Holden, in charge of the response to the Bundibugyo virus epidemic within the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, explained that the situation was developing in a particularly fragile environment.
The Congolese provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu are already heavily dependent on humanitarian aid and have health systems that are under pressure. According to the WHO, the DRC had 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths at the time of the meeting, while Uganda had 15 confirmed cases, all linked to travel from the DRC or secondary transmission.
The WHO representative also indicated that the epidemic had probably begun several weeks before it was officially detected, and that it had spread over an area of almost 1,000 kilometres. The organisation is also concerned about a possible spread to South Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda.
The Director-General of the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), Sandra Gallina, pointed out that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) had assessed the risk of sustained transmission in the European Union as “very low”. No imported cases have been reported at this stage. She pointed out that the ECDC and the WHO were not recommending general travel restrictions, preferring to strengthen surveillance and screening capacities.
The Deputy Director-General of the European Health Emergency Response and Preparedness Authority (HERA), Laurent Muschel, said that the European Union was supporting the development of diagnostic capabilities, treatments and a vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain. The European Union is contributing €79 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which is tasked with supporting this work.
Cécile Billaux, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), pointed out that the European Union had earmarked €174 million for the health sector in the DRC under the current Multiannual Financial Framework, in addition to €20 million mobilised during the Mpox crisis in 2024 to strengthen health capacities in several provinces now affected by Ebola.
Informal ministerial meeting. These discussions took place at a time when European health ministers are due to take part in an informal videoconference meeting on Friday 5 June, organised to exchange information on the development of the epidemic in Central Africa.
The Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council therefore wishes to have a political exchange on preparedness and the response to the epidemic, as well as on areas where further European cooperation could be beneficial.
In particular, ministers will be invited to present their assessment of the situation, the measures already taken or planned at national level and any coordination and support requirements at EU level.
The aim is to ensure that national and European responses remain proportionate, coordinated and in line with WHO recommendations. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)