US pledges $267m more to fight Ebola in central Africa

The United States announced on Wednesday an additional $267 million in funding to combat the Ebola outbreak in central Africa, as health officials strive to bring the deadly virus under control. The financial commitment was made during a visit to the United Nations General Assembly, where officials sought further contributions from other nations to reach a combined $2 billion goal aimed at tackling the disease, primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The outbreak was first identified in May and has since become the second most lethal on record, surpassed only by a previous West African epidemic from 2014 to 2016.

Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka characterized the current outbreak as a "major test" for her nation. She affirmed that combating the epidemic is a top priority for the DRC. Despite having previously contained 16 outbreaks, the DRC is leveraging recognized scientific and operational expertise, with the response beginning to yield measurable outcomes, she stated at the UN General Assembly.

The United States has now pledged a total of $886 million to combat the outbreak, which includes an additional $107 million from the Department of Health and Human Services, alongside the State Department's contribution. This assistance aims to support countries in containing the outbreak at its source, such as by establishing treatment facilities and supplying diagnostics and medical countermeasures for healthcare workers operating in affected areas.