The Gates Foundation has announced $15 million in emergency funding to support the response to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak affecting communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The foundation said the money will be routed through trusted institutions already operating on the ground, with $5 million allocated to Africa CDC for regional coordination, rapid deployment and cross-border surveillance, $5 million to WHO AFRO for frontline operational support, and $5 million to WHO headquarters for procurement, diagnostics and logistics.
The announcement comes as health authorities in DRC and Uganda, working with Africa CDC, the World Health Organization and regional partners, race to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. The foundation said it supports the African-led “one plan, one budget, one team” approach aimed at improving coordination and speeding up response efforts.
In a statement, the Gates Foundation said no single country or institution can contain an outbreak alone, especially when there is a risk of cross-border transmission. It said the priority now is rapid detection, public health measures, protection for frontline workers and coordinated action to stop transmission as quickly as possible.
The foundation also pointed to its broader support for vaccine, therapeutic and diagnostic development through the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, while noting that there are currently no approved vaccines or therapeutics specifically for Bundibugyo Ebola.
Officials said the outbreak underscores the need for early coordination and strong regional cooperation, warning that delays can allow localized outbreaks to grow into wider health emergencies. The foundation said it will continue working with governments, Africa CDC, WHO and other partners to assess whether additional support is needed in the coming weeks.
