The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have launched a $518 million plan to combat the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda, where conflict is complicating the response.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the plan—developed in partnership with the Africa CDC—will run from June through November and includes emergency coordination, surveillance, testing, infection prevention, clinical care, and community engagement.
The initiative comes as authorities race to contain the lethal virus, first reported in the DRC on May 15. Since then, the outbreak has infected at least 381 people in the country, causing 64 deaths.
The disease has also spread to Uganda, where officials announced three additional cases on Friday, bringing the total to 19, with two fatalities.
The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which is believed to have been spreading silently for some time.
Speaking at the press conference, Tedros expressed confidence that the WHO–Africa CDC health plan would bring the outbreak under control. “The goal is very simple: we need to stop the outbreak where it is happening, support the countries responding, and ensure neighboring countries are ready to detect and act quickly if cases appear,” he said.
According to the Africa CDC, the current outbreak is larger than the two previous Bundibugyo strain outbreaks in 2007 and 2012. Although three vaccines are under study and trials are expected to accelerate, none has yet been approved for this strain.
Meanwhile, in Kenya—a country that has never recorded an Ebola case—anger is growing over the establishment of a U.S. Ebola quarantine station for American citizens. Hundreds of people protested in the town of Nanyuki near Laikipia Air Base earlier this week and gathered outside the planned facility. Americans infected with Ebola abroad will be sent there instead of being allowed to return home. At least two people were killed and one injured when the protest turned violent on Monday. Kenyan President William Ruto defended the base, saying it is crucial for Kenya’s health partnership with the United States.
