China has provided an additional $2.5 million in emergency funding to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to strengthen efforts to contain the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as regional and international health agencies intensify measures to curb the spread of the virus.
The latest contribution, presented by Jiang Feng, Head of the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the African Union, brings China’s total direct financial support for Africa CDC’s Ebola response to $4.5 million.
Africa CDC said the funding will support critical frontline response operations, including disease surveillance, case management, laboratory services, logistics and community engagement in affected areas, helping health authorities contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.
The continental public health agency described the contribution as a reflection of the growing partnership between Africa and China in responding to public health emergencies and strengthening health security across the continent.
“The timely support will reinforce ongoing emergency interventions while providing assistance to communities affected by the outbreak in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda,” Africa CDC said in a statement.
The agency expressed its appreciation to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Government of China and the Chinese people for their continued support of Africa-led public health initiatives and emergency response efforts.
Africa CDC said sustained international cooperation remains essential to containing disease outbreaks, particularly those with the potential to spread across borders, reaffirming its commitment to working with international partners to strengthen Africa’s epidemic preparedness and response capacity.
The World Health Organization (WHO), which is supporting the response alongside Africa CDC and the health authorities in the DRC and Uganda, has intensified surveillance, laboratory testing, case management, infection prevention and community engagement to help contain the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak and reduce the risk of regional transmission.
The Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus causes a severe and often fatal disease in humans and has no licensed vaccine specifically approved for its prevention, making early detection, rapid isolation of cases and coordinated public health interventions critical to containing outbreaks.
The latest funding comes as the DRC and Uganda continue to battle the outbreak through a coordinated regional response involving Africa CDC, WHO and international partners aimed at strengthening surveillance systems, supporting affected communities and preventing further cross-border spread of the virus.
