The Gates Foundation has announced an initial $15 million emergency funding package to support efforts aimed at containing the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak affecting communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The foundation made the announcement in a statement on Saturday, expressing concern over the outbreak and extending sympathy to families who have lost loved ones, affected communities, and frontline health workers battling the disease.
“We are deeply concerned by the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak affecting communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda,” the foundation said.
It noted that the outbreak requires urgent regional cooperation, warning that no single country or institution can successfully contain the disease alone, especially with the risk of cross-border transmission.
According to the statement, the governments of the DRC and Uganda, alongside the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and regional partners, are currently coordinating efforts to contain the outbreak and strengthen preparedness.
The foundation said it strongly supports the African-led “one plan, one budget, one team” response strategy designed to improve operational coordination and accelerate containment efforts.
Breaking down the emergency intervention fund, the Gates Foundation said $5 million would go to Africa CDC to support regional coordination, rapid deployment, and cross-border surveillance activities.
Another $5 million will be provided to WHO’s Africa Regional Office (WHO AFRO) to strengthen frontline operational support for affected countries.
The remaining $5 million will go to WHO Headquarters to support rapid procurement, diagnostics, and emergency logistics for critical response supplies.
The foundation also highlighted its support for collaboration between Africa CDC and WHO AFRO through the Joint Emergency Action Plan (JEAP), a framework aimed at improving coordination and ensuring governments receive unified emergency support during health crises.
It further noted that while it continues to support the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics through funding partnerships with organisations such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments specifically for Bundibugyo Ebola.
The Gates Foundation stressed that the immediate priority remains rapid detection, strong public health measures, protection of frontline workers, and coordinated interventions to stop the spread of the virus.
“In an outbreak, every day matters. Early coordination and rapid action are the difference between containment and wider regional spread,” the statement added.
The organisation said it would continue working closely with governments, Africa CDC, WHO, and other international partners to monitor the evolving situation and determine where additional support may be required in the coming weeks.
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