Africa Secures $498.8m Ebola Response Pledges

Africa has secured approximately $498.8 million in pledges and commitments to support response operations against the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola Virus outbreak affecting parts of Central Africa, health authorities have confirmed.

The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, disclosed this in a post on X following a high-level ministerial meeting involving governments and development partners.

According to him, the funding commitments reflect growing continental solidarity and coordinated efforts to strengthen outbreak response systems across affected and high-risk countries.

“Today, during the High-Level Ministerial Meeting, governments and partners announced approximately US$498.8 million in pledges and commitments to strengthen response efforts across affected and high-risk countries,” Kaseya said.

He added that trust, coordination, and rapid intervention remain critical to controlling the spread of the virus and preventing further loss of life.

The outbreak, driven by the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, has raised global concern due to the absence of an approved vaccine or targeted treatment for the virus.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (World Health Organization), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reportedly warned that the outbreak’s death toll has risen significantly, describing the situation as one where “the epidemic is outpacing us.”

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has also allocated up to $60 million from its emergency response fund to support containment efforts, alongside contributions from the World Bank, the United States, and European partners.

Health authorities report that the outbreak has spread across parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with hundreds of suspected and confirmed cases recorded, as well as multiple deaths linked to the virus.

Officials say urgent international cooperation is needed to strengthen surveillance, improve treatment capacity, and prevent further cross-border transmission of the disease.