In a statement dated May 18, 2026, Pierre Dimba announced that no cases of Ebola Virus Disease have been detected in Côte d’Ivoire or anywhere in West Africa to date.

The government reassured the population that prevention, surveillance, and preparedness measures have been strengthened nationwide, particularly at land, air, and sea entry points, to prevent any possible introduction of the disease. The national surveillance and response system remains fully operational, with continuous monitoring in collaboration with national and international partners.

Ebola Virus Disease is described as a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated wild animals. Symptoms include high fever, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes bleeding.

To protect the population, the Ministry of Health recommends strict preventive measures such as regular handwashing with soap and water, avoiding contact with bodily fluids of sick individuals, not handling bodies of people who died under suspicious circumstances, avoiding contact with sick or dead wild animals, seeking immediate medical attention in case of symptoms, and complying with enhanced health screening at entry points. The public can also contact the national emergency health hotline at 143 for more information.

The statement also noted that the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain was declared on May 15, 2026, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.