Ebola containment efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will now be bolstered by $21 million in additional humanitarian assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The funds are in response to a continually worsening condition in the country, where an outbreak of Ebola has been ongoing since August 2018. It has since become the second-largest outbreak of Ebola on record. The additional funds boost U.S. investment to nearly $158 million. These investments will assist in measures such as the prevention and control of infections in health facilities, enhanced disease surveillance, training for health care workers, communities, promotion of safe and dignified burials, and food to support those communities affected by Ebola.
However, the threat of the disease spreading beyond DRC borders continues, especially now that Ebola cases have reached areas near other nations. As such, the United States is also working on regional preparedness efforts with the nations of Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda.
In addition to funding, the United States also has a disaster assistance response team of health and disaster experts working in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, DRC, along with humanitarian organizations and the DRC government at large. At this time, USAID states that it is also pleased with the progress of the fourth Strategic Response Plan for the Ebola containment effort at large, as led by UN Ebola Coordinator David Gressly.