Ebola outbreaks: US commits $3.5 million in rapid response assistance to DRC and Guinea

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced this weekend it is providing more than $3.5 million in rapid response Ebola assistance to support efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Guinea. The assistance will support disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, contact tracing, community awareness and social mobilization, and logistics management.

Image/Dr. Frederick Murphy,CDC

Swift outbreak control will help prevent the spread to other countries.

Ebola outbreaks in Africa: Death toll rises to 13

On February 7, 2021, the Ministry of Health in the DRC confirmed an Ebola outbreak in North Kivu Province. Separately, on February 14, 2021, the Guinean Ministry of Health also confirmed an Ebola outbreak. At this time, DRC reports 11 confirmed cases including four deaths and Guinea reports 18 confirmed and probable cases including eight deaths. The U.S. assistance will complement the ongoing response efforts of the governments of DRC and Guinea.

Between 2014 and 2020, the U.S. Government was the largest bilateral donor to respond to multiple Ebola outbreaks in West Africa and the DRC.

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