The United States has committed an additional $20 million to support Ebola preparedness efforts in countries surrounding the current outbreak, increasing the Department of State's direct contribution to Ebola response and preparedness activities to more than $220 million.
Funding for neighboring countries
In a media note issued on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State stated that the new funding would bolster preparedness measures in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan as authorities work to prevent the spread of the disease beyond affected areas.
This funding is separate from the $350 million already allocated for Ebola response and other humanitarian assistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Uganda as part of broader U.S. humanitarian support announced in May.
Largest financial contributor
The State Department emphasized that the United States remains the largest financial contributor to the Ebola response and is collaborating closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regional governments, and other international partners to contain the outbreak.
According to the statement, the additional funding will strengthen national emergency operations centers, improve disease surveillance and laboratory testing, enhance border screening and infection prevention measures, and support the procurement and distribution of critical medical supplies. The program will also help neighboring countries prepare their health systems to identify and manage potential Ebola cases.
Protecting American citizens
The U.S. government said protecting American citizens remains a top priority and noted that guidance has been issued for a voluntary process to assist American citizens who may have been exposed to Ebola or who request assistance departing the DRC, South Sudan, or Uganda during the outbreak. U.S. embassies in affected countries are also continuing to provide travel, safety, and health information to citizens in the region.
Recent U.S.-funded activities
The State Department highlighted several recent U.S.-funded response activities across affected countries:
- In the DRC, UNICEF delivered 150 metric tonnes of water, sanitation, and infection prevention supplies to frontline health facilities in Bunia, enough to meet the needs of about 100,000 people for six months.
- Efforts to strengthen surveillance and border monitoring have also expanded.
- In Uganda, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) trained about 1,000 Village Health Team members to improve community-based disease surveillance.
- In South Sudan, more than 30,000 traveler screenings have been conducted to boost early detection of possible Ebola cases.
The statement further noted that response partners continue to support contact tracing and public awareness campaigns. In the DRC, UNICEF trained 24 local decontamination teams to rapidly disinfect homes and public spaces following confirmed or suspected Ebola cases, while FHI 360 reached more than 1,200 people through community engagement programs aimed at combating misinformation and promoting preventive measures.
To improve diagnostic capacity, IOM deployed a mobile laboratory to the outbreak zone in Beni, while FHI 360 supplied fuel and transportation support to laboratories to prevent disruptions caused by power outages and logistical challenges.
Supporting health facilities
The State Department also said U.S.-supported organizations, including MedAir and International Medical Corps, are assisting 100 health facilities in Ebola-affected areas, comprising six specialized Ebola treatment centers and 94 health centers providing screening, treatment, and referral services.
In addition, the United States is leveraging private-sector partnerships through Airlink to transport critical Ebola response supplies, including safe burial kits and infection prevention materials, to Bunia in eastern DRC using donated cargo space from commercial airline partners.
