The United States has released an additional $267 million to support efforts to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The US State Department announced the funding on Wednesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, saying the latest contribution brings Washington’s direct health and humanitarian assistance for the outbreak to $887 million.
According to Channels Television, citing AFP, the US described itself as the largest aid provider for the latest Ebola outbreak and called on other countries with the capacity to increase their contributions.
The funding comes as the outbreak continues to expand across the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The World Health Organisation reported that, as of September 20, the outbreak had reached 63 health zones, with 7,733 confirmed cases and 3,732 deaths. The outbreak has also expanded to seven provinces.
WHO has identified the outbreak as being caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of Ebola for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment. The agency has described the outbreak as the largest Ebola disease outbreak ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The US funding follows an international appeal for increased support for the response. WHO said earlier in September that the government-led six-month response plan required $1.3 billion to fund the work of all partners.
The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern in May after cases were confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Uganda has since ended its outbreak, while transmission continues in the DRC.
Health authorities continue to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, patient care, infection prevention and control measures, and cross-border preparedness as the outbreak spreads into additional areas.