US to Provide Additional $242 Million to Combat Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa

The United States will provide an additional $242 million to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries, the US State Department announced.

"The State Department announces that, in cooperation with Congress, it plans to provide an additional $242 million for operational Ebola response and preparedness measures in the region, as well as humanitarian assistance related to the outbreak," the statement read.

The funds will allow for the expansion of existing response programs in Africa. They will also supplement the $350 million in humanitarian aid previously allocated to the DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda as part of a May support package from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

In July, the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam reported that the US government had allocated 2.3 billion Tanzanian shillings (over $1 million) to strengthen Tanzania's preparedness for potential Ebola outbreaks.

Ebola is a severe, acute viral disease with a high fatality rate. Transmission occurs through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals, as well as with contaminated surfaces and materials.