The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will use $107 million in emergency funding to support the response to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
The outbreak, which involves Bundibugyo viral disease, a rare species of Ebola, has now infected more than 1,000 people across the two countries, according to officials. While the risk inside affected areas remains high, health authorities said the global risk is still considered low.
Dr. Satish K. Pillai, the CDC’s incident manager for the Ebola response, said the outbreak has reached roughly 1,000 confirmed cases across 31 health zones in the DRC, with additional confirmed cases reported in Kampala, Uganda. The CDC has field staff supporting disease investigations and more than 100 personnel working across both countries.
The emergency funding is intended to help control the outbreak in the DRC and Uganda while also strengthening U.S. readiness in the unlikely event that cases are detected domestically. CDC officials said they are coordinating with health partners and holding regular calls with U.S. cities hosting World Cup events.
TRENDING TODAY
The outbreak comes as Canada, Mexico and the United States jointly host the FIFA World Cup, bringing large numbers of international visitors to North America. Officials said they are monitoring the situation, but so far, local health authorities in host cities have mostly dealt with illnesses typical of major events, including heat-related medical issues.
Bundibugyo viral disease is a hemorrhagic fever related to Ebola. In past outbreaks in Congo and Uganda, it has killed between 30% and 50% of people infected. The disease spreads through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or contaminated surfaces. It is not spread through the air like COVID-19 or measles, which health officials say makes the global risk lower.
African health leaders have warned that the outbreak could become the worst on record if current infection rates continue. The largest Ebola outbreak in history infected more than 28,000 people and killed about 11,000 between 2014 and 2016 in West Africa and the eastern DRC.
As of mid-June, the CDC had reported hundreds of confirmed cases in the DRC and smaller numbers in Uganda, with nearly 200 deaths across both countries. Officials say the response has been complicated by mistrust, limited protective equipment, and shortages of vehicles needed to safely transport bodies.
The CDC funding adds to international pledges already made to fight the outbreak. However, African health officials have said that only a small portion of promised donor money has actually been received so far.
Some countries, including the United States, have imposed travel restrictions on people arriving from affected areas. Those restrictions have been criticized by some public health experts, who argue they can interfere with response efforts by discouraging reporting, slowing movement of health workers, or increasing fear.
CDC officials said their work is focused on three goals: helping control the outbreak in the DRC, supporting response efforts in Uganda, and preparing the United States to respond quickly if needed.
For now, health officials are emphasizing that the outbreak is serious in the affected region, but it does not currently represent a major global threat.
Why It Matters
The funding matters because Ebola outbreaks can become deadly and difficult to control if response teams do not move quickly. Support for disease tracking, protective equipment, safe burials, and community outreach can help slow transmission.
The issue also matters because the World Cup is bringing global travel attention to public health preparedness. Officials say the risk remains low, but coordination between international health agencies and host cities is still important.
What Comes Next
The CDC will continue supporting outbreak investigations and response teams in the DRC and Uganda. Health officials will also monitor travel-related risks and maintain contact with U.S. World Cup host cities.
The key question is whether emergency funding and international support can arrive quickly enough to prevent the outbreak from spreading further.
Officials discussed U.S. support for the Ebola response as the outbreak continues in the DRC and Uganda.
U.S. TAKES THE LEAD AGAINST EBOLA
“The United States is leading the world in responding to the Ebola outbreak in Africa, sending $375 million in aid so far to help stop and contain the crisis at its source.” – @POTUS pic.twitter.com/rI5AkZwImT
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) June 17, 2026
