DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The African Development Bank Group has approved $13 million in emergency grants to bolster efforts to contain a new Ebola virus disease outbreak in central and eastern Africa. The funding aims to strengthen national emergency responses and limit the spread of the virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Uganda. This rapid financial mobilization seeks to enhance regional containment measures and reduce mortality rates in the most at-risk populations.
The health emergency originated in the DRC, where authorities officially declared the new outbreak on May 15, 2026. The epidemic initially affected the eastern Ituri province, particularly in areas like Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongwalu. Since its emergence, the virus has quickly spread beyond its initial focus, reaching neighboring North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Experts have identified the cause as the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a highly contagious variant with no currently approved vaccine or specific treatment available.
To enable prompt response, the comprehensive funding package is split into two grants managed by leading global health organizations. A primary grant of $10 million is allocated from reallocated resources within the existing DRC portfolio of the African Development Bank. These funds will be channeled directly through the World Health Organization. An additional $3 million, from the bank’s Multi-Country Emergency Assistance Project covering the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, will be managed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The financial resources have been carefully distributed based on the severity of the crisis in each country. As the main epicenter, the DRC will receive the largest support with $11 million. Uganda and South Sudan will each get $1 million from the Multi-Country Emergency Assistance Project. These targeted funds are intended to improve prevention efforts, strengthen health infrastructure, and prepare border areas for potential cross-border transmission.
Following the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Response Plan, the funds will be deployed in close coordination with each nation’s health ministries. The focus will be on stopping the virus’s spread and reducing related deaths and illnesses in vulnerable communities. Key activities include enhancing early diagnosis, expanding epidemiological surveillance networks, and supporting community engagement and awareness campaigns. The funds will also facilitate regional coordination to unify the medical response efforts.
Mohamed Cherif, the Deputy Director General for Africa and the DRC country manager for the African Development Bank, highlighted the importance of this financial support. “This emergency assistance demonstrates the African Development Bank Group’s commitment to helping the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries protect lives, reinforce health systems, and prevent the spread of the epidemic,” Cherif said. He also reaffirmed the bank’s pledge to support its regional member countries during times of crisis.
The international health community remains vigilant as the situation evolves. Since pharmacological options are unavailable for the Bundibugyo strain, medical teams must depend solely on strict containment, quarantine procedures, and symptomatic care. This emergency funding will provide the necessary liquidity for local authorities to establish secure isolation units, sustain essential health services, and address the logistical challenges posed by this highly infectious disease.