The United States announced on Friday an additional $38 million in funding for Ebola response efforts, as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that without robust public health interventions, the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could match or even surpass the severity of the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic.
Total US commitment exceeds $200 million
This new funding brings the total direct financial commitment from the United States to more than $200 million so far, according to a statement from the State Department. While the department did not specify how the funds would be allocated, it emphasized close collaboration with the CDC, the DRC government, and Uganda to mount a swift and comprehensive response to the outbreak.
CDC reports aim to mobilize international resources
On Friday, the CDC released three official scientific reports on the outbreak. Dr. Satish Pillai, incident manager for the agency's Ebola response, stated during a briefing that these reports are intended to help marshal resources and coordinate the international community's efforts. The CDC continues to monitor the situation closely and urges strong public health measures to contain the spread.
