Uganda: U.S. Donates Experimental Antibody Treatment to Bolster Uganda's Fight Against Ebola

The U.S. government has provided an experimental Ebola treatment called MBP134 to Uganda's Ministry of Health, enhancing the nation's readiness in the face of an ongoing Bundibugyo virus outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. The vials of the antibody-based treatment are held ready for use should a new Ebola case arise in Uganda, which currently has no active cases.

Although the DRC outbreak has recorded over 4,500 confirmed cases and more than 2,000 deaths as of mid-August 2026, Ugandan health authorities are cautious about the risk of cross-border transmission due to the ongoing crisis and movement of people between the two nations. MBP134, developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical with support from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, targets and neutralizes Ebola virus particles, showing activity against multiple Ebola species, including Bundibugyo virus, in pre-clinical studies.

The treatment is available for compassionate use while clinical research continues, though it is not yet an approved commercial Ebola treatment. U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Mikael Cleverley emphasized that the donation aims to enable Uganda to respond swiftly if Ebola crosses the border, highlighting that an outbreak anywhere is a threat everywhere.

This delivery complements the U.S.'s commitment of over $619 million to Ebola response efforts across the region, making it the largest contributor to the regional response.