WHO Provides $500,000 to Combat Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo

The World Health Organization has allocated $500,000 from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support the response to the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As of now, 28 suspected cases and 16 deaths have been reported, including four health workers. The WHO Director-General emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting the government’s efforts, highlighting that staff are already on the ground in Kasai with more personnel en route to assist in tracing contacts, testing samples, and providing technical expertise.

The current outbreak is the 16th in the DRC since the disease was first identified in 1976. The Ebola Zaire strain has been confirmed as the cause of the outbreak. In response, WHO has delivered essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment and laboratory equipment, and is releasing 2,000 doses of Ebola vaccine to inoculate contacts and health workers.

The WHO Director-General praised the DRC government for its leadership and transparency in declaring the outbreak and sharing the viral sequence. With the emergency funding, WHO is urging donors to support the response efforts to contain the outbreak. This allocation is part of the global response to the outbreak, which aims to stop ongoing Ebola transmission worldwide within a specified timeframe.