African airlines have played a critical role in helping the continent detect, respond to and contain infectious disease outbreaks, including Ebola and Mpox, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Speaking at the August 2026 AFRAA SkyConnect Leadership Dialogues, Prof. Yap Boum II, Head of Emergency Preparedness and Response at Africa CDC, said reliable air connectivity remains essential to Africa’s public-health response because it enables international health workers, experts and emergency support to reach affected areas quickly.
According to The Daily Sun, he specifically identified Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines as airlines that have been at the forefront of outbreak-response efforts. The carriers have introduced QR code-based screening systems at their hubs, allowing air travel to continue while maintaining health-safety measures. Prof. Yap cautioned against blanket border closures during disease outbreaks, arguing that such measures could be counterproductive. He warned that countries facing punitive travel restrictions may become reluctant to report future outbreaks because of the economic and social consequences associated with isolation.
Instead, he advocated keeping airspace open while strengthening health screening at points of entry. He cited the case of a traveller who carried Ebola from the Democratic Republic of Congo to France, noting that the situation was successfully managed without triggering further cases. The Africa CDC official also called for closer collaboration between public-health authorities, airlines and communities. He said airlines are often brought into outbreak-response planning only after a crisis has begun, despite their important role in surveillance, screening and controlling cross-border transmission.
He stressed that outbreak management should not be treated solely as a medical issue, noting that effective communication with travellers and the aviation industry is equally important. According to Prof. Yap, Africa must also strengthen its National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) to preserve institutional knowledge and ensure countries are better prepared to respond when outbreaks occur. While the risk of disease transmission can never be completely eliminated, he said stronger institutions can help contain outbreaks at their source.
The Africa CDC’s position underscores the strategic importance of aviation beyond tourism and trade, highlighting African airlines as essential partners in the continent’s broader health-security and emergency-response architecture.
