U.S. Commits $162 Million to Ebola Response in Congo and Uganda

The Department of State and the CDC are coordinating a response to an Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The United States has committed more than $162 million to the effort, positioning itself as the largest financial contributor to the response.

Beyond direct response funding, the State Department allocated $350 million through UN humanitarian pooled funds to the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, part of a broader $1.8 billion commitment announced May 14. An additional $50 million directed to the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund supports the establishment of up to 50 Ebola response clinics across the region.

On May 28, the United States, Mexico, and Canada announced coordinated public health measures for travelers arriving from African regions with the highest Ebola risk. The three countries implemented aligned screening protocols for visitors to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which takes place in North America.

U.S. officials issued updated travel guidance on May 28 requiring that American citizens and nationals who spent time in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival in the United States enter through designated airports for enhanced screening. The State Department simultaneously upgraded its travel advisory for Uganda from Level 1 to Level 2, recommending enhanced precautions, and the CDC moved Uganda from Level 1 to Level 2 on its Travel Health Notice.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the outbreak response with Kenyan President William Ruto on May 28. The United States announced plans to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya's Ebola preparedness efforts.

**Operational Response**

U.S.-funded organizations have deployed supplies and personnel across affected regions. In the DRC, UNICEF imported 100 tons of water, sanitation, hygiene, and infection prevention supplies. The International Organization for Migration deployed PPE, hand hygiene materials, disinfectants, thermometers, and screening equipment. Samaritan's Purse completed two of three planned flights to Bunia carrying 24 tons of equipment for a 40-bed treatment center.

In Uganda, UNICEF delivered sanitation and infection control supplies to 48 health centers in high-risk districts. The organization oriented health educators across 15 districts and translated prevention materials into 10 local languages.

Contact tracing operations expanded significantly. In the DRC, UNICEF deployed 1,300 health workers and mobilized 100 motorcycles for contact tracing personnel. The organization FHI 360 trained 40 health zone supervisors on infection prevention and engaged media, religious leaders, and community groups to strengthen prevention messaging and support safe burials.

IOM staffed health screening operations at multiple entry points, including Bunia Airport and N'djili International Airport in the DRC; Entebbe International Airport and Arua Airport in Uganda; Bujumbura International Airport in Burundi; and Bole International Airport in Ethiopia.

Laboratory capacity expanded with FHI 360 delivering 2,000 Ebola testing cartridges to the DRC. The organization transported 310 samples from Bunia to Kinshasa for analysis.

International Medical Corps established five transit centers and one dedicated Ebola Treatment Unit with U.S. funding and scaled infection prevention practices at 43 health clinics across the region.