WHO Flies Emergency Supplies from Nairobi Amid Ebola Outbreak

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🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In an official statement issued on May 19, WHO said the deployment is part of a rapid response aiming to contain the spread of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus after declaration of the outbreak.

“Following the declaration of the outbreak on 15 May 2026, WHO acted swiftly, delivering 11.5 metric tons of essential medical supplies and equipment within 72 hours from its facilities in Kinshasa and its regional emergency response centers in Dakar and Nairobi,” WHO wrote.

According to the organisation, the supplies include personal protective equipment, medical kits, tents, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) materials.

📌 What You Need to Know

WHO has been collaborating with partner organisations and the private sector to rapidly deliver emergency supplies, including the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), which provided air and ground logistical support, while Ethiopian Airlines adjusted flights to expedite the cargo from Nairobi.

Additionally, more than 35 WHO and health experts have been deployed to the affected areas to support disease surveillance, clinical care, infection prevention and community engagement. More teams are being mobilised as the response scales up.

The DRC is grappling with its 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976, with WHO reporting 80 fatalities and 246 suspected infections in Ituri province as of May 16.

The agency has noted that the Bundibugyo strain has no licensed vaccine or specific treatment, with potential fatality rates of up to 50 per cent, making early detection, supportive care, strict infection control and contact tracing critical.

The situation is particularly concerning for Kenya because Uganda has also recorded confirmed cases linked to cross-border movement to DRC, including two infections and one death in Kampala.

Kenya is now among the countries on alert after WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke

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