$518 Million Emergency Plan Announced
The World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have announced a $518 million emergency response plan to contain the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The plan, announced Friday, will run through November and is designed to strengthen the regional response as cases continue to rise.
Response Covers Key Health Measures
The emergency plan includes funding and coordination for several critical areas of outbreak control.
These include emergency coordination, surveillance, testing, infection prevention, clinical care and community outreach in affected areas.
DRC Reports Sharp Rise In Cases
The announcement came as the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Health reported 71 new confirmed cases in a single 24-hour period this week.
That brought the country’s confirmed total to at least 452 cases and 82 deaths.
Uganda Confirms Additional Cases
Uganda also reported new infections on Friday.
The country confirmed three additional cases, bringing its total to 19 confirmed cases and two deaths.
WHO Says Response Is Catching Up
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this week that health officials were beginning to catch up with the virus.
However, he acknowledged that the outbreak had gained a significant head start before response efforts could fully scale up.
Travel Bans Draw Warning
Tedros also warned against blanket travel bans imposed by some countries.
He said such measures could discourage transparency, interfere with public health coordination and disrupt the outbreak response.
Kenya Isolation Facility Sparks Backlash
Frustrations remain over U.S. plans to open a controversial Ebola isolation facility in Kenya.
The proposed 50-bed quarantine site would be used for U.S. citizens affected by the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Public Opposition Grows In Kenya
The proposal has triggered public backlash in Kenya, even as President William Ruto has said the plan is safe.
Two people were reportedly killed last week during a protest near Laikipia Air Base, where the facility is expected to be located.
High Court Temporarily Blocks Facility
Kenya’s high court has temporarily blocked the quarantine facility, citing public health concerns.
The decision adds another layer of uncertainty to the U.S. plan and reflects growing unease over how international outbreak measures are being handled.
U.S. Strategy Faces Criticism
Some U.S. health experts have also criticized the proposed facility.
The criticism followed statements from the Trump administration that it was determined to prevent the virus from crossing U.S. borders.
Outbreak Response Enters Critical Phase
The new WHO and Africa CDC plan reflects the urgency of containing the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak before it spreads further.
With cases increasing in the DRC and Uganda, health officials are now focused on faster detection, stronger treatment capacity, safer infection control and community trust in affected regions.
