Background
Ebola disease cases caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) are increasing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Exportation of cases have been noted in Uganda. In response, WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 17 May 2026. Africa CDC followed on 18 May 2026, designating the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), based on recommendations from its Emergency Consultative Group (ECG).
Critical gaps in testing capacity needed to assess the outbreak’s impact and guide an effective response. There is an urgent need for diagnostics capable of detecting BDBV, as well as rapid and accurate tests that can be deployed in decentralized settings to support the most affected communities.
A consortium composed of WHO, Africa CDC, PATH and FIND with the support of UNITAID is launching a coordinated initiative to strengthen the BVD diagnostic response. The initiative will take a comprehensive approach across the diagnostic ecosystem, including the evaluation and benchmarking of laboratory-based molecular assays to support confirmatory testing, alongside the advancement of diagnostics suitable for decentralized settings to enable faster, front-line decision-making. Aligned with the 100 Days Mission for medical countermeasures, this effort aims to accelerate access to a broad range of fit-for-purpose diagnostics to ensure timely and equitable response across affected regions.
Purpose of partner engagement
The consortium is launching an Expression of Interest (EOI) for manufacturers interested in participating in an independent performance evaluation of diagnostics for BDBV detection, including laboratory-based molecular kits, point-of-care molecular (MDx POC) tests, and antigenbased rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs).