Lessons from the Bundibugyo outbreak for the Americas

The Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with cross-border spread into Uganda, may seem geographically distant from the Americas. Yet, there is an important lesson for the region: outbreaks are contained not only by disease-specific tools, but by preparedness systems built long before a crisis becomes visible. For countries in the Americas facing recurrent and emerging threats, including dengue, yellow fever, Zika, Oropouche, and other zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, the outbreak underscores the need for sustained investment in integrated, risk-informed preparedness at community, subnational, national, and regional levels.