Key facts
- CDC is allocating $107 million in emergency funding for Ebola response in DRC and Uganda.
- The outbreak is the third largest on record, with 837 confirmed cases in DRC and 19 in Uganda as of June 15.
- 198 deaths have been reported across both countries.
- Global risk is considered low, but local risk in DRC and Uganda is high.
- Containment efforts are hampered by mistrust, shortages of protective equipment, and transport for bodies.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is releasing $107 million in emergency funding to bolster the response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. Officials described the situation as requiring "strong immediate support," noting that the outbreak is now the third largest on record.
Dr. Satish K. Pillai, incident manager for the CDC's Ebola response, stated that nearly 1,000 confirmed cases have been recorded across 31 health zones in the DRC, with an additional 31 cases in Kampala, Uganda. The CDC has deployed 23 field staff for investigations and maintains a total of 125 staff members across both nations, conducting twice-weekly calls with US World Cup host cities to monitor potential health risks.
The outbreak involves Bundibugyo viral disease (BVD), a rare zoonotic species of Ebola, which has historically shown a mortality rate of 30% to 50%. African health officials have cautioned that the current outbreak could potentially become the most severe on record if current infection rates persist, possibly taking a year to contain. As of June 15, the CDC reported 837 confirmed cases in the DRC and 19 in Uganda, resulting in 198 deaths combined.
While the risk within the affected countries is high, the global risk is assessed as low due to the disease's transmission primarily through direct contact with bodily fluids and contaminated surfaces, unlike more contagious airborne illnesses. Despite the low global risk, the US is among 22 countries that have implemented travel restrictions, which critics argue hinder the outbreak response. Containment efforts have been further complicated by public mistrust, shortages of personal protective equipment, and inadequate transportation for deceased individuals.
This new emergency funding from the CDC supplements approximately $910 million previously pledged to combat the outbreak, of which less than 10% has been received from donors. Pillai emphasized that CDC's efforts are concentrated on controlling the outbreak in the DRC and Uganda, while also ensuring domestic preparedness for any potential cases.