WHO releases emergency funds as Ebola response scales in DRC, Uganda

The World Health Organization is escalating its response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, releasing $3.9 million from its emergency fund. A continental Incident Management Support Team is also being established with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

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So far, 101 cases have been confirmed in DRC with 10 confirmed deaths. In Uganda, five cases and one death have been confirmed, linked to cross-border movement.

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced the measures Monday, citing a raised "very high" national risk level in the DRC due to rapid transmission of the rare Bundibugyo strain. The outbreak has seen 101 confirmed cases and 10 deaths in DRC, and five cases and one death in Uganda, linked to cross-border movement. While regional risk is assessed as high, global risk remains low, though bordering countries face immediate danger.

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The national risk level in DRC had been raised to “very high” due to rapid transmission and the absence of vaccines or therapeutics for the rare Bundibugyo strain.

The response faces significant challenges, including insecurity in DRC's Ituri and North Kivu provinces, which has displaced over 100,000 people. Two security incidents at health facilities were reported recently, and distrust of authorities is hindering community-based interventions. Building trust is now a top priority for WHO to improve effectiveness.

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To address lack of countermeasures, WHO convened interim Medical Countermeasures Network last week and recommended prioritising two monoclonal antibodies for clinical trials.

To address the lack of countermeasures, WHO is prioritizing two monoclonal antibodies for clinical trials and developing a trial for the antiviral obeldesivir. Discussions are also underway with partners regarding candidate vaccines. Ghebreyesus is scheduled to visit the DRC on May 26 to review response operations.

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Building trust in affected communities was now one of the WHO’s highest priorities to improve outbreak response effectiveness and community engagement across affected regions in DRC and Uganda, which is urgently required.