Africa CDC: $1.4 billion needed to contain Ebola outbreak in DRC, Uganda
Synopsis
With 1,138 confirmed Ebola cases and 293 deaths across the DRC and Uganda, the Africa CDC has put the price of stopping this outbreak at $1.4 billion — yet only 13 per cent of the $910 million already pledged has been released. An imported case confirmed in France now signals the outbreak is no longer a purely African containment problem.
Key Takeaways
The Africa CDC says $1.4 billion is required for the full Ebola outbreak response and preparedness plan as of 25 June .
Confirmed cases in the DRC and Uganda have reached 1,138 , with 293 deaths .
An African Union -led meeting last week secured $910 million in pledges, but only 13 per cent has been disbursed.
The financing requirement has escalated from an initial $319 million appeal at outbreak declaration on 15 May to the current $1.4 billion figure.
An imported Bundibugyo Ebola virus case has been confirmed in France , involving a health worker who left the DRC on 19 June .
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Thursday, 25 June warned that the continental Ebola outbreak response and preparedness plan requires $1.4 billion, as confirmed cases across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda climbed to 1,138, with 293 deaths recorded so far.
The Funding Gap
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya made the appeal during an online press briefing, stating plainly: '1.4 billion dollars is needed for the combined humanitarian and health aspects of the response. If we don't have this, and if we don't resolve the humanitarian issue, we will not stop this outbreak.'
Kaseya noted that an African Union-led high-level meeting last week had generated $910 million in Ebola-specific pledges from African states and multilateral and bilateral partners. However, only 13 per cent of that pledged amount has actually been released to affected countries and operational response partners — a critical shortfall that he said must be addressed immediately.
How the Financing Requirement Has Escalated
The scale of the crisis has grown sharply since the outbreak was formally declared by the DRC on 15 May. At that point, the Africa CDC appealed for $319 million to mount an initial response. As the outbreak expanded, the Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) jointly revised that figure upward to $518 million to support detection and containment efforts across affected and at-risk countries. The latest requirement of $1.4 billion reflects the combined humanitarian and health dimensions of a now-regional crisis.
Kaseya argued that early financing represents the most cost-effective public health investment available, warning that delayed disbursement risks allowing the outbreak to escalate beyond current boundaries.
Imported Case Reaches France
The Africa CDC also flagged a significant development outside the continent: an imported Ebola case confirmed in France. The case involves a health worker who had supported the ongoing Ebola response in the DRC from 19 May to 19 June. The individual left the DRC 'in good health,' according to the Africa CDC's press statement issued on Wednesday, before travelling to France, where mild symptoms developed and medical care was sought. Laboratory testing subsequently confirmed infection with the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.
The Africa CDC has urged sustained vigilance and international solidarity in the wake of the imported case, which underscores the cross-border transmission risk even when standard health screening protocols are in place.
What Happens Next
The immediate priority, according to the Africa CDC, is the rapid and full release of pledged funds before the outbreak deepens. Without that, both the humanitarian response and the clinical containment effort remain underfunded at a critical juncture. The imported case in France is also likely to heighten pressure on European and global partners to accelerate disbursements and bolster surveillance at international ports of entry.
Point of View
From $319 million to $518 million to $1.4 billion in the space of six weeks, reflect not bureaucratic overreach but a containment effort running behind an accelerating outbreak. The imported case in France changes the diplomatic calculus: wealthy donor nations that have been slow to release pledged funds now have a direct self-interest in doing so. Whether that translates into faster disbursement, or merely faster border screening, will define how this outbreak ends.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does the Africa CDC say is needed for the Ebola response?
The Africa CDC says $1.4 billion is needed to cover the combined humanitarian and health dimensions of the Ebola outbreak response and preparedness plan. Director General Jean Kaseya warned on 25 June that without this funding, the outbreak cannot be stopped.
How many Ebola cases and deaths have been confirmed so far?
As of 25 June, confirmed Ebola cases across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda have reached 1,138, with 293 deaths recorded. The outbreak was formally declared by the DRC on 15 May.
Why has the Ebola funding requirement jumped so sharply?
The financing requirement has escalated in stages — from an initial $319 million appeal at outbreak declaration, to $518 million as the Africa CDC and WHO expanded preparedness efforts, to the current $1.4 billion which incorporates the full humanitarian response. The rise reflects the outbreak's geographic spread and growing humanitarian burden.
What is the Ebola case confirmed in France?
An imported Bundibugyo Ebola virus case has been confirmed in France involving a health worker who supported the DRC response from 19 May to 19 June. The individual left the DRC in good health, developed mild symptoms after arriving in France, and tested positive following laboratory confirmation.
How much of the pledged Ebola funding has actually been released?
Only 13 per cent of the $910 million pledged at an African Union-led high-level meeting last week has been released to affected countries and operational partners. The Africa CDC has called for immediate disbursement of the remaining pledged funds before the outbreak escalates further.
