Healthcare System resilience after Ebola outbreak: a scoping review on the evolution of preparedness and containment strategies in Africa

On May 17th, 2026, WHO has declared a public health emergency of international concern after the epidemic of Ebola Disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. [1] Nevertheless Africa had experienced Ebola outbreak in past years, the 2014–2016 West African epidemic represented an unprecedented for its dimensions in geographical extension, scale and mortality. The reasons were linked to the change in African society, the urbanization of rural areas, the increase in population density in large cities and the ease of transport. In response to this new emergency, during the Brazzaville Preparedness meeting in October 2014, WHO published the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Consolidated Preparedness Checklist, based on national risk assessment factors, to facilitate more effective implementation of preparedness actions. Since then, Africans National Healthcare Systems have shown faster detection, stronger local response capacity and greater integration of community-based approaches. This scoping review aims to map how African health systems have changed their approach to Ebola outbreak containment over time, identifying the main organizational, clinical, public health and governance strategies implemented, the lessons learned across countries and the remaining barriers to sustainable epidemic preparedness and response.