WASHINGTON, United States- The United States has announced an additional $38 million in funding to support the ongoing Ebola outbreak response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as international containment operations intensify across the Great Lakes region.
The announcement, made by the U.S. Department of State in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), brings the State Department’s direct Ebola response funding to more than $200 million.
The support comes on top of $350 million already committed for Ebola and broader humanitarian assistance in the DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda. This forms part of a wider $1.8 billion contribution to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), underscoring Washington’s continued role as the largest financial backer of the response.
Cross-border coordination escalates
Health authorities in the DRC and Uganda, working with U.S. agencies and partners, are scaling up surveillance and containment measures as new transmission risks emerge along porous border zones.
The U.S. State Department said its priority remains preventing the outbreak from reaching American soil while supporting frontline containment in affected regions. Embassies have been instructed to update American citizens on travel advisories and health guidance continuously.
A voluntary evacuation and assistance framework has also been activated for U.S. citizens in affected countries, including the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. However, individuals remain subject to local and international health screening protocols.
Frontline interventions and funding deployment
The new funding is being channelled through international partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNICEF, World Vision, International Medical Corps (IMC), and the World Food Programme, into surveillance, treatment, and community response operations.
In the DRC, IOM is strengthening airport and border screening systems, deploying thermo-scanners, and supporting infrastructure upgrades at key entry points. In Uganda, more than 100 health screeners and data clerks have been deployed across 13 points of entry to monitor cross-border movement.
UNICEF has supplied infection prevention materials to treatment centres and high-risk facilities, while World Vision reports reaching more than 400,000 people through community awareness campaigns aimed at curbing misinformation and improving early detection.
IMC has trained frontline health workers in identifying and safely isolating suspected cases, while also supporting Ebola treatment and transit centres that have screened hundreds of individuals.
The World Food Programme is also providing nutritional support to patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers in isolation and treatment facilities, a critical component of sustaining response capacity.
Risk communication and community engagement
Public health teams are intensifying community outreach, particularly in high-risk zones such as Bunia, Goma, and border health districts. Training programmes targeting healthcare workers, teachers, religious leaders, and transport operators are aimed at improving early reporting and reducing transmission risks.
Safe and dignified burial protocols remain central to the response, with specialised teams deployed to manage cases while ensuring community acceptance of prevention measures.
Outlook and regional implications
The Ebola response highlights the persistent vulnerability of cross-border health systems in Central and East Africa, where population movement and limited health infrastructure complicate containment.
While authorities have not indicated a rapid escalation in case numbers, officials warn that sustained surveillance, funding, and community cooperation remain essential to preventing wider regional spread.
As the outbreak continues, coordination between the DRC, Uganda, and international partners is expected to deepen, with emphasis on early detection, border control, and public trust in health messaging.
