Boosts Ebola aid to Congo and Uganda by $80 million amid worsening outbreak

The United States has boosted Ebola relief to Congo and Uganda by 80 million dollars, expanding its outbreak response as health teams push to slow a fast-moving crisis. The funding will provide PPE for frontline workers, additional Ebola test kits, expanded airport screening, and enhanced contact tracing to interrupt transmission. Aid arrived in Bunia, the heart of the Ituri outbreak, on a white cargo plane donated by the European Union, with UN forklifts unloading supplies into waiting trucks. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and Congo has reported more than 1,000 suspected cases and at least 220 deaths since May 15, while Uganda has seven cases and one death.

Officials note that the new funds lift total U.S. commitments to more than 112 million dollars since the outbreak began, underscoring a sustained international push. The money will support airport screening and strengthen contact tracing, while aid workers confront distrust, attacks on centers, and logistical hurdles. Red tape at customs, limited storage, poor roads, and weak telecommunications complicate the response in a volatile region. With leadership from UNICEF and the WHO, responders emphasize rapid deployment as shipments continue over the next eight days to maximize impact.