Africa’s battle against a fast-growing Ebola outbreak has suffered a major blow after more than $200 million in pledged funding vanished within days, raising fears that a deadly virus with no approved vaccine could spread further across the continent.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said financial commitments made by international partners to support the emergency response have fallen from nearly $500 million earlier this week to around $290 million.
Unlike the Zaire strain of Ebola, for which vaccines and treatments have been developed, there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment specifically for the Bundibugyo strain. Health experts say that makes rapid detection, isolation and community engagement even more critical.
According to the latest Africa CDC figures, Congo has recorded 1,077 suspected cases and 246 suspected deaths. Uganda has confirmed eight cases.
The World Health Organization has designated the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, its highest level of alert for cross-border health threats.
