UK boosts Ebola funding to £78.7 million

The United Kingdom has raised its support for the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This brings its total funding to £78.7 million, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Africa CDC shared this news in a statement on its website. This followed a meeting in Addis Ababa between its Director-General, Jean Kaseya, and UK Minister for International Development, Kirsty McNeill.

They talked about the Ebola response, regional coordination, and the need for ongoing support for affected countries.

Ms McNeill mentioned that the UK government had already allocated £26.9 million for the immediate response in the DRC and Uganda. This also covers regional coordination efforts.

Africa CDC noted that "the additional UK funding will support the response in the DRC and Uganda, as well as wider regional coordination and preparedness."

The extra support comes as the Ebola outbreak keeps spreading in the DRC. As of 6 September, the country had recorded 6,686 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,226 deaths, based on the latest WHO Africa situation report.

The outbreak now affects six provinces and 60 health zones. It is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a different type of Ebola virus than the Zaire species that caused several past outbreaks.

The first alerts were received in early May. This was after an unexplained illness with high death rates was reported in the Mongbwalu Health Zone in Ituri Province.

Laboratory tests confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease. The DRC officially declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on 15 May. Uganda later confirmed imported cases linked to this outbreak.

This led the WHO to declare the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 16 May.

Africa CDC said the extra UK support will strengthen several areas of the response. This includes surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, case management, community engagement, and cross-border preparedness.

The announcement also comes as African health authorities and international partners aim to improve coordination across borders. They want to speed up how suspected cases are identified, tested, and treated.

Africa CDC said it will keep working with member states and partners. They aim to enhance surveillance, laboratory systems, patient care, infection prevention and control, community engagement, and preparedness along borders.

Mr Kaseya spoke on the new funding. He welcomed the UK’s support for the African-led response. "This support comes at an important time. We are working closely with the DRC, neighbouring countries, and partners to stop transmission, protect communities, and support health workers on the front line," he said.

He added that strong international partnerships that align with the priorities of affected countries and African institutions are key to controlling the outbreak.

The WHO has warned that around 5,000 more health workers are needed for Ebola treatment centres in the DRC as the outbreak grows. Nearly 4,000 health workers are already in treatment centres, but more are required as treatment capacity increases.

WHO also reported that nearly 1,400 treatment beds are currently available across 59 treatment centres. Another 1,600 beds are needed to meet the expected demand.