The Government of Sierra Leone has officially activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Center and intensified border surveillance in response to the escalating Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD) outbreak currently affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

The activation was highlighted during a high-level stakeholder engagement convened by the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) and the Ministry of Health on May 25, 2026. The strategic meeting brought together senior government officials, epidemiology experts, and technical partners to assess Sierra Leone’s readiness to handle any imported cases or local transmission.

During the engagement, Dr. James Squire delivered a detailed presentation on the current threat level. As of May 22, 2026, the DRC had recorded 746 suspected cases, 83 confirmed cases, and nine confirmed deaths. Uganda has also documented five confirmed cases and one death in its capital, Kampala. Dr. Squire warned that the outbreak in the DRC is projected to reach up to 3,600 suspected cases within 100 days unless existing response gaps are urgently addressed.

The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak is outpacing response efforts, with more than 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths reported in DRC as of 25 May 2026. The outbreak has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

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The Ebola strain involved is the Bundibugyo virus, for which no approved vaccines or therapeutics currently exist. The response in the DRC is currently being hampered by six major operational challenges: a lack of approved vaccines or therapeutics specifically for the Bundibugyo strain, delayed case detection, insecurity in affected regions, high cross-border movement, weak health infrastructure, and widespread misinformation.

Dr. Squire disclosed that Sierra Leone’s national readiness level currently stands at 51%, which falls below the World Health Organization (WHO) benchmark of 80%.

While the country demonstrates notable strengths—including laboratory readiness at 84%, surveillance systems at 68%, and points of entry preparedness at 63%—critical gaps persist in infection prevention and control, safe and dignified burial protocols, logistics, and risk communication.

Despite these gaps, health officials outlined significant proactive measures already underway to close the vulnerabilities. Alongside the activation of the Emergency Operations Center, the government has updated national surveillance protocols, deployed dedicated ambulance services to Freetown International Airport, identified and prepared regional isolation facilities and launched intensified, nationwide risk communication campaigns.

To further bolster border security, Mr. Michael Kamara demonstrated a new Point of Entry (PoE) Travel Portal. This digital innovation is designed to enhance border health surveillance, streamline the screening of incoming travelers, and strengthen disease prevention at all entry points.

The national response is being guided by the “4-Ones” coordination framework: One Team, One Plan, One Budget, and One Monitoring and Evaluation System.

In closing the meeting, Prof. Foday Sahr called for sustained collaboration and accountability among all stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of preparedness strategies and the long-term resilience of the health system. Dr. Mustapha Kabbah echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the absolute necessity of early preparedness mechanisms, including regular training and simulation drills, to maintain outbreak readiness.