The United States has announced an additional $20 million to strengthen Ebola preparedness across South Sudan and neighbouring countries as part of wider regional efforts to contain the outbreak in East and Central Africa.
The funding, announced by the U.S. Department of State in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), brings total direct U.S. Ebola response funding to more than $220 million, according to an official statement on Wednesday.
South Sudan is among the priority countries for the new support, alongside Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda, as health authorities step up surveillance, border screening and emergency preparedness to reduce the risk of cross-border transmission.
The latest allocation comes on top of more than $350 million already committed for Ebola response and related humanitarian assistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan and Uganda, as part of a broader $1.8 billion contribution to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced in May.
Strengthening preparedness systems
The State Department said the new funding will support national emergency operations centres, improve disease surveillance, expand laboratory testing capacity and reinforce infection prevention and control systems in affected and at-risk countries.
In South Sudan, where weak health infrastructure and porous borders increase outbreak risks, partners have been supporting enhanced screening at points of entry and strengthening early warning systems to detect potential cases.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), working with national authorities, has conducted more than 30,000 traveller screenings in South Sudan and trained frontline workers to improve community-based surveillance and early detection of infectious diseases.
Across the region, U.S.-funded partners are also supporting health worker training, supply distribution and public awareness campaigns aimed at countering misinformation and improving understanding of Ebola transmission and prevention.
Regional response operations
In neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak, humanitarian agencies supported by U.S. funding have delivered 150 metric tonnes of water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to frontline health facilities in Bunia, according to UNICEF, enough to support around 100,000 people for six months.
Response teams are also carrying out contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, and rapid decontamination of households and public spaces following suspected or confirmed cases to help interrupt further transmission.
In Uganda, more than 1,000 village health teams have been trained to strengthen community-based surveillance, while cross-border monitoring continues in coordination with neighbouring countries.
Treatment and laboratory support
U.S.-supported organisations, including MedAir and International Medical Corps, are assisting more than 100 health facilities in Ebola-affected areas in eastern DRC. These include specialised treatment centres as well as health facilities providing screening, referral and basic care services.
Laboratory capacity has also been strengthened through mobile diagnostic units and logistical support to ensure continuity of testing despite challenges such as power interruptions and insecurity.
The U.S. government reiterated that protecting its citizens remains a priority, saying updated guidance has been issued for Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola or who wish to seek voluntary departure from affected countries, including South Sudan.
The United States said it remains the largest financial contributor to the Ebola response and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting regional governments to strengthen preparedness and response capacity.
and then