Ebola fight: United States donates 100 vials of monoclonal antibodies

KAMPALA - Building on sustained U.S. technical support to Uganda since the first day of the 2025 Ebola outbreak, the United States government has donated 100 vials of monoclonal antibodies to the Uganda Ministry of Health. 

Among the mid-1970s medical science breakthroughs, monoclonal antibodies have the potential to significantly improve survival rates in patients with Ebola.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a type of immunotherapy that involves engineered antibodies mimicking human antibodies, produced from a single cell clone to target specific antigens. 

During the 2022 outbreak, the U.S. government donated monoclonal antibodies for compassionate use in the successful management of the SUDV outbreak in Mubende.

The new consignment will enhance the ongoing efforts to end the current Sudan Ebola Virus (SUDV) outbreak in Uganda.

On Monday (April 14th), U.S. Ambassador William W. Popp handed over the treatments to State Minister for Health, General Duties, Anifa Kawooya Bangirana, at the National Medical Stores, where they will be safely stored until needed in the event of future cases.

The treatments are viable for years under specified temperature conditions.

“The United States’ donation of monoclonal antibodies is an important contribution to the global fight against Ebola, saving lives in Uganda, and making both America and Uganda safer,” said Ambassador Popp.

“Providing these groundbreaking treatments demonstrates the United States’ strong commitment to innovation, scientific excellence, shared prosperity, and global health security. As we respond to outbreaks like Ebola, we build stronger global health security partnerships that benefit us all,” he said.

The additional monoclonal antibody therapy is a timely donation, ensuring health authorities are ready to promptly manage any new confirmed cases as Uganda progresses on the countdown to end the 2025 Ebola outbreak.

This U.S. government assistance is in addition to ongoing robust U.S. contributions to Uganda’s 2025 Ebola response, including more than $6 million to date to support case identification and surveillance, contact tracing, lab diagnostics, entry/exit screening, public messaging, community outreach, and infection prevention and control.

Collectively, this support reinforces the U.S. government’s longstanding commitment to strengthen Uganda's health system, respond to various health threats, including Ebola, and save lives. 

The latest support supplements the years of U.S. government partnership to build a strong and resilient health system able to detect, prevent, and respond to a variety of health threats and illnesses that make America and the world safer.