The United States pledged an additional $267 million to support the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday, September 23.
The U.S. Department of State announced the funding on the margins of the High-Level Week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying the money will support Ebola treatment units, safe and dignified burial teams, personal protective equipment, disease surveillance, essential health supplies and contact tracing.
The latest commitment brings direct U.S. health and humanitarian assistance for the outbreak to $887 million.
More than $780 million of that amount has been provided through the Department of State, according to the U.S. government.
The announcement comes as the outbreak continues to record thousands of cases and deaths.
According to the World Health Organization, the DRC had recorded 7,733 confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease and 3,732 confirmed deaths as of September 20.
The outbreak has also continued to expand geographically. WHO said Dungu Health Zone in Haut-Uélé Province, which borders South Sudan, became the latest affected area, bringing the number of affected health zones in the DRC to 63.
The disease is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola. WHO says there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for the virus, while research into medical countermeasures continues.
The U.S. Department of State said its response began within 48 hours of the first reports of Ebola in the DRC in May.
It said its assistance has supported 23 specialised Ebola treatment centres, 235 health facilities in outbreak areas, 8.6 million health screenings and the delivery of 292 metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies.
The latest funding forms part of a U.S. commitment made at the G7 Leaders’ Summit to provide up to an additional $500 million for Ebola response efforts.
The United States has also called on other countries with the capacity to increase their contributions as health authorities and international partners continue efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent further regional spread.
