UN allocates $60m to contain Ebola outbreak

The United Nations has allocated $60 million from its emergency response fund to support efforts to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding regions.

The funding, announced in a Facebook post on Friday, May 22, will be directed toward strengthening key response measures including contact tracing, the establishment of treatment centres, and intensified community engagement to curb the spread of the virus.

The outbreak, which is centred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has so far recorded about 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths, raising alarm among health authorities and international partners.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as of Sunday, May 17, underscoring the seriousness of the situation and the need for a coordinated global response.

Health experts say the outbreak involves a rare strain of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, for which there is currently no proven vaccine. The virus is estimated to kill around one in three people it infects, making containment efforts urgent.

The response is expected to focus on rapid case detection, isolation of patients, and community sensitization to reduce transmission in affected areas.

What is Ebola and how does it spread?

What is causing this outbreak? Ebola is a disease caused by a virus – it is rare, but severe and often deadly. There are three species of Ebola virus that cause outbreaks, and this one is known as Bundibugyo

How is Ebola transmitted? It spreads between people through infected bodily fluids, such as blood and vomit

How deadly is it? Around 30% of people have died in previous outbreaks of Bundibugyo Ebola virus

What is the incubation time? Symptoms appear between two and 21 days after being infected

What are the symptoms? The initial symptoms appear suddenly and are flu-like, such as a fever, headache and tiredness. As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea develop and the body’s organs do not work as well. Some patients may develop internal and external bleeding

Where does Ebola come from? Outbreaks start when somebody catches Ebola from infected animals, such as fruit bats

Is there a vaccine? There are vaccines for the Zaire species of Ebola, but not for Bundibugyo

Ebola was first discovered in 1976 in what is now DR Congo, and is thought to have spread from bats. This is the 17th outbreak of the deadly viral disease in the country.

There is no proven cure for Ebola, with the average fatality rate is around 50%, according to the WHO.

Africa CDC previously said it was concerned by the high risk of further spread due to the urban settings of Rwampara and Bunia, and mining activities in Mongwalu.

The health agency’s executive director Dr Jean Kaseya added that “significant population movement” between the affected areas and neighbouring countries also meant regional co-ordination was essential.

Around 15,000 people have died from the virus in African countries over the past 50 years.

DR Congo’s deadliest outbreak was between 2018 and 2020, during which nearly 2,300 people died.

Last year, 45 people died after an outbreak in a remote region.