The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has activated US$107 million in emergency funding to strengthen domestic and international efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The funding will support response operations including disease surveillance, laboratory testing, border health measures and public health coordination as authorities work to contain the outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
The CDC said it currently has field teams supporting epidemiological investigations and working alongside health authorities in affected countries.
Dr Satish Pillai, incident manager for the CDC’s Ebola response, said 23 CDC field staff were supporting investigations and the DRC health ministry, while more than 125 agency personnel were involved in response activities across the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The outbreak has raised international concern after the World Health Organization declared it a global emergency.
More Read
According to health officials, the outbreak has grown to 875 confirmed cases, including 202 deaths, with fears it could become one of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks recorded.
The current crisis has renewed memories of the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people and became the largest Ebola outbreak in history.
The CDC funding announcement came as health authorities warned that international support for the response remains far below what has been pledged.
Africa’s top public health body said donors had pledged about US$910 million for response efforts in Congo and Uganda, including $80 million from African Union member states, but less than US$90 million had actually been released.
The United States said it remains the largest contributor to the response and called on other international partners to provide additional support.
CDC teams in the Democratic Republic of Congo are assisting with efforts to improve community acceptance of surveillance measures, isolation procedures and safe burial practices.
They are also supporting assessments at border entry points and providing technical assistance to laboratories involved in Ebola diagnosis.
“Critically, we’re also working with the government of DRC to support preparedness in provinces immediately west of the outbreak zone to contain the spread of the outbreak,” Pillai said.
In Uganda, CDC teams are supporting border health measures, including assessments at airports and other points of entry, as authorities seek to prevent further transmission.
More Read
The agency said the risk to the United States remains low but confirmed it is preparing for the unlikely possibility of a case being detected domestically.
CDC officials are also coordinating with health authorities in US cities preparing to host matches during the upcoming World Cup, monitoring Ebola alongside other possible health threats such as measles and heat-related illnesses.
The outbreak response has highlighted ongoing challenges facing African health systems, including limited resources, the need for faster international funding and the importance of strengthening disease detection capacity.
Health experts say early detection, community cooperation and rapid deployment of medical teams remain critical to preventing further spread.
The CDC said its support will focus on helping affected countries control transmission, strengthen preparedness and reduce the impact of the outbreak on communities.
