The World Health Organization, together with the African Union’s health agency, has announced a new $518 million plan to fight the growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and nearby Uganda.
The plan will run from June to November. It includes emergency coordination, testing, infection prevention, patient care, and working closely with local communities. The head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the goal is simple: stop the outbreak where it is, help the countries already dealing with cases, and make sure neighbouring nations are ready to act fast if the virus appears.
The Ebola outbreak was first announced in the DRC on May 15. Since then, at least 452 people have been infected, and 82 have died. The country’s health ministry says the virus is spreading rapidly from person to person. In just one 24-hour period, 71 new cases were confirmed.
The virus has also crossed into Uganda, where three more cases were reported on Friday. That brings Uganda’s total to 19 cases and two deaths.
This time, the outbreak is caused by a rare strain called Bundibugyo. Experts believe it had been spreading unnoticed for a while before being detected.
Officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that without strong public health action, this outbreak could become one of the largest Ebola crises ever recorded. It could even match the terrible West Africa epidemic of 2014 to 2016.
There are three vaccines being studied right now, and they are being fast-tracked for trials. But so far, no vaccine has been approved for this strain.
While Kenya has never recorded a single Ebola case, the United States is building a quarantine station for its citizens in the town of Nanyuki, near the Laikipia Air Base. Americans who catch Ebola while overseas would be sent there instead of being allowed to return home.
The plan has caused a lot of anger. Hundreds of people took to the streets on Monday and Tuesday. The protests turned violent on Monday, leaving at least two people dead and one injured.
Kenya’s President, William Ruto, has defended the US base, saying it is an important part of the country’s health partnership with America.
Tedros, however, remains hopeful. He called the new health plan practical and clear. “It sets out what we need to do now, together,” he said, “to contain the current outbreak and reduce the risk of further spread.”
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