The UK government has announced a new package of over £50 million to support efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This funding aims to save lives and reduce the risk of further international spread of the disease.
Africa Minister Kirsty McNeill announced the measures today, stating that the full UK contribution to the response now stands at £78 million. The accelerated support comes as the outbreak continues to spread, with concerns it could become the deadliest and most extensive Ebola epidemic ever recorded.
The new UK package will focus on strengthening disease surveillance, supporting frontline health workers, improving infection prevention and control, expanding access to treatment, and supporting safe burials. Minister McNeill highlighted the urgency, noting that families in the DRC are experiencing significant loss as the outbreak intensifies.