Prof. Bamidele Iwalokun, an expert in Pathogen Genomics, Immunoinformatics, and Vaccine Regulatory Science, says persistent Ebola outbreaks are driven by weak surveillance systems, inadequate research, and poor community engagement.
Iwalokun, who is also the Director of Research at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, stated this on Monday during an Ebola Disease Update webinar organized by Preventive Health Nigeria Advocacy Operations Ltd.
He also attributed the continued outbreaks to insufficient funding for vaccine development and therapeutics.
“There are four major gaps undermining global efforts to contain recurrent Ebola virus outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda,” he said.
“They include inadequate genomic surveillance, weak implementation research, limited scientific understanding of non-Zaire Ebola virus species, and insufficient investment in research and innovation.
“The absence of comprehensive genomic intelligence for all human pathogenic Ebola virus species weakens surveillance and response efforts,” Iwalokun added.
He highlighted limited understanding of the evolution and transmission dynamics of Bundibugyo and other non-Zaire Ebola virus species.
He also emphasized that inadequate funding has slowed the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
“These gaps have contributed to prolonged Ebola outbreaks by limiting coordinated public health interventions.
“The lack of actionable intelligence to predict outbreaks in high-risk countries, weak early warning systems, and the absence of specific diagnostics and vaccines for Bundibugyo and other non-Zaire Ebola virus species are additional challenges,” he explained.
Iwalokun pointed out that community resistance, driven largely by cultural practices, remains a major obstacle to outbreak control.
“Many infected persons are reported only at advanced stages of illness after the virus has replicated extensively, increasing the risk of transmission,” he said.
He called for proactive community-level surveillance, rapid immune-based diagnostic tools, and increased funding to develop point-of-care test kits that can be deployed in communities without transporting samples over long distances.
He also stressed the importance of addressing cultural practices surrounding the handling and burial of Ebola victims, noting that such practices continue to hinder efforts to contain the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda.
Additionally, Dr. Linus Ndegwa, an epidemiologist with the Kenya Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, dispelled common misconceptions about Ebola transmission.
Ndegwa clarified that Ebola is not transmitted through the air and is not spread by mosquitoes, ticks, or other insects.
He explained that the virus spreads only through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials via broken skin or mucous membranes.
He emphasized that healthcare workers, family caregivers, and those handling the bodies of infected victims are at the highest risk if proper infection prevention measures are not followed.
Accurate public information on Ebola transmission is crucial for reducing stigma, preventing panic, and encouraging communities to adopt effective preventive measures.
Earlier, the webinar’s convener, Mr. Adekola Wojuola, urged Nigerians to intensify public education and awareness about Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to prevent its spread into the country.
“Nigeria cannot afford an Ebola outbreak while dealing with many challenges. We must educate our communities to ensure the country remains Ebola-free,” he said.
As of July 15, a total of 2,124 confirmed cases, including 828 deaths, have been reported from the DRC, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement issued on Friday, July 17, 2026.
