South Africa pledges $5m to support Ebola response in DR Congo, Uganda

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South Africa on Monday pledged $5m (about sh18.5 billion) to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to support efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement during a high-level meeting of African health ministers on the outbreak response.

News agencies report that he said that more than 200 people have died so far, adding that the Africa CDC has described the current outbreak as the second-largest since the 2014 West Africa epidemic.

Ramaphosa, who serves as the African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, highlighted efforts with partners, including the World Health Organisation, the Vaccine Alliance Working Groups, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, on promoting vaccine and therapeutic candidates towards clinical trials.

"We strongly support these efforts, as Africa cannot continue to face deadly epidemics without equitable access to diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments," he added.

He called on all relevant partners and manufacturers to accelerate research and development, strengthen genomic surveillance, expand laboratory systems, and fast-track the equitable delivery of safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics.

Ebola is a deadly viral disease that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. It can cause severe bleeding and organ failure.

The current epidemic centres on the conflict-wracked eastern DRC, where it was detected in Ituri province before spreading to South Kivu.

On Monday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda is spreading rapidly.  DRC authorities reported more than 900 suspected cases and over 200 suspected deaths.

Uganda has already activated emergency response systems, intensified surveillance at border points and expanded screening operations in health facilities following the recent Ebola cases linked to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

On May 25, the ministry of health confirmed two new Ebola Virus Disease infections of health workers in Kampala, raising the country’s total number of confirmed cases to seven (7) as ministry of health intensifies surveillance and contact tracing operations.

The two newly infected patients are Ugandan health workers attached to a private health facility in Kampala and are receiving treatment at a designated Ebola isolation and treatment unit.

In a statement issued on Monday, May 25, Prof. Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services, said both patients were identified through ongoing surveillance efforts and that response teams had already started tracing all individuals who may have come into contact with them.

The latest infections come just days after Uganda confirmed three other Ebola cases on May 23, including a driver and another health worker linked to the country’s first Ebola patient, alongside a Congolese woman who had travelled between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Uganda has already activated emergency response systems, intensified surveillance at border points and expanded screening operations in health facilities following the recent Ebola cases linked to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Major preventive measures advisory by ministry of health, Uganda

1. Avoid contact with suspected Ebola patients.

2. Do not handle the bodies of suspected Ebola victims.

3. Wash your hands regularly with clean water and soap

4. Report any Ebola-related symptoms immediately. 0800-100-066