News 28 October 2025 IOM Ramps Up Ebola and Mpox Response in Africa

Geneva/Nairobi, 27 October 2025 - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is scaling up health security operations across Africa, responding swiftly to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and supporting mpox preparedness and response efforts in several countries, including Angola, Ethiopia, DRC, Malawi, South Sudan, and Uganda.

IOM is supporting operations at 90 points of entry and cross-border areas in 15 countries, focusing on population mobility data, capacity strengthening for border officials, cross-border coordination, surveillance, and risk communication and community engagement. These efforts protect mobile communities, people along high-risk transit corridors, and those in hard-to-reach areas.

"Our top priority is to make fully operational all identified points of entry and screening points, strengthen local workforce capacity and ensure communities along mobility corridors are protected," said Frantz Celestin, Regional Director for East, Horn and Southern Africa. "These measures help prevent the spread of disease and keep both travelers and border communities safe."

Following the Ebola outbreak in DRC's Kasai Province on 4 September 2025, IOM deployed teams to support DRC's Ministry of Health (MOH) and local partners. As of 16 October 2025, the country had reported 64 cases and 45 deaths.

Border communities face heightened risk due to high mobility and limited access to health services. Screening points are operational along major transport routes, with over 169,000 screenings conducted. Contact tracing, as well as risk communication and community engagement at priority points of entry, are also in progress to reduce the risk of transmission.

IOM is supporting the deployment and training of MOH staff, while in Angola, the Organization and partners are developing joint contingency plans to strengthen preparedness and response along the shared border.

In Uganda, IOM teams are reviewing their support during the Sudan Virus Disease (a strain of the Ebola virus) outbreak earlier this year to strengthen future preparedness and response. The operation also revealed other infectious disease threats such as cholera, mpox, and measles.

At the same time, IOM is supporting national mpox responses in several countries. In Uganda and Ethiopia, health authorities are using IOM's mobility data for public health planning and outbreak preparedness. In Malawi and South Sudan, IOM is enhancing surveillance, contact tracing, and access to vaccination at key border points.

IOM's health security work promotes regional collaboration, knowledge sharing, cross-border partnerships, and joint surveillance. Although mpox is no longer a public health emergency of international concern and Ebola cases continue to decline, the risk persists.

IOM will continue to work with governments and partners to strengthen readiness at borders and along migration routes, ensuring that safe, regular, and healthy mobility contributes to regional and global health security.

For more information, please visit IOM's Media Centre.