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

The United States has increased Ebola aid to Congo and Uganda by 80 million dollars, expanding its support as the outbreak worsens. The funding will cover PPE for frontline workers, rapid Ebola test kits, expanded airport screening, and intensified contact tracing to curb transmission. EU-donated supplies arrived in Bunia, the outbreak’s center in Ituri province, on a white cargo plane, while UN-branded forklifts moved multiple cases into waiting trucks. Congo has confirmed more than 1,000 suspected cases and at least 220 deaths since declaring the outbreak on May 15; Uganda has seven cases and one death.

The United States’ overall commitment to Congo and Uganda now exceeds 112 million dollars since the outbreak began, reflecting a sustained international push. Aid is slated to arrive in batches over the next eight days, helping to alleviate shortages and address logistical bottlenecks. The response is led by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, with a focus on PPE, testing, screening at points of entry, and contact tracing. Officials caution that surveillance gaps may hide a larger outbreak than currently reported, underscoring the urgency of an expanded operation.