The United States on Tuesday, 9 June called on countries worldwide to intensify efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, asserting that Washington has already deployed extensive resources and that broader international action is now urgently required to prevent the virus from spreading further.

Rubio-Von der Leyen Call

Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss coordinated US-European response efforts, according to the State Department. State Department Spokesperson Thomas Pigott confirmed the conversation, stating: 'Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss US and European coordination and response efforts to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.'

Pigott further noted that 'the Department's highest priority and focus remains protecting the health of the American people and preventing this Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores.'

What the Trump Administration Claims It Has Done

The Trump administration characterised its response as unprecedented in speed and scope. 'President Trump has taken unprecedented steps to address the Ebola outbreak. We responded within 24 hours of the first confirmed case, mobilising a wide range of medical, humanitarian, operational and consular resources to rapidly respond,' a State Department official said.

The official also asserted that 'the United States continues to be the largest financial contributor to the Ebola response.' Washington has additionally imposed travel restrictions and screening measures on individuals who have recently visited affected countries, citing national security and public health imperatives.

The Call for Global Action

Beyond its own measures, the US explicitly pressed other nations to follow suit. 'The United States has stepped up. Now the world must do more to step up as well. Other countries must do their part to ensure this outbreak does not spread further. Action is required now,' the official said, adding that this includes 'financial contributions and implementing commonsense restrictions on travel from the affected area.'

This comes amid heightened concern over large-scale international gatherings. Washington specifically flagged the upcoming FIFA World Cup, noting that diplomatic engagement is under way to coordinate a common approach 'to protect our citizens, including the millions of visitors, fans, athletes and tourists expected' at the tournament.

Background on the Outbreak

Ebola is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. The disease has triggered multiple deadly outbreaks across Africa over several decades. Public health authorities typically rely on surveillance, contact tracing, dedicated treatment centres, and vaccination campaigns to bring outbreaks under control. The simultaneous presence of the virus in both the DRC and Uganda has raised the complexity of the current response, as it requires cross-border coordination between governments with differing health infrastructure capacities.

What Comes Next

The State Department said it is actively engaging governments around the world to align on a shared strategy. The pressure on other countries to increase financial contributions and enforce travel-related restrictions is expected to intensify in the coming days, particularly as the FIFA World Cup draws closer and the risk of international transmission remains a concern for health authorities.