ISSUE
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing the world’s second largest Ebola epidemic in history with 3,250 cases and more than 2,100 deaths. Today, the epidemic remains a very dangerous risk, and greater support is needed to end the epidemic and ensure that health systems are strengthened to prevent future outbreaks.
WHY IT MATTERS
The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in July 2019. While progress has been made, the outbreak will continue to burn and pose health, security and economic risks to the world without more urgent action. Now is the time to tip the scales of the outbreak and wipe out the last cases.
In addition, this outbreak has crippled the health system of eastern DRC and its ability to fight other disease outbreaks like malaria and measles, posing a potential global health security problem if DRC’s health systems aren’t strengthened.
To beat back Ebola, on-the-ground support for contract tracing, vaccination and surveillance is urgently needed in DRC. It is essential to invest now to bring an end to the outbreak and begin shoring up health system capacities to prevent another outbreak.
SOLUTION AND IMPACT
To support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) coordinated response to the epidemic in DRC, the CDC Foundation is mobilizing funds between $15–$20 million to deploy staff with expertise in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, vaccines, logistics, and management and operations. In addition, funds will support provision of internet connectivity services and hardware to support office and data transmission needs. Response efforts will also require lab equipment, field supplies and transportation.
The CDC Foundation is turning to its philanthropic and private sector partners to help strengthen efforts to contain and stop the spread of Ebola in DRC; invest in the region’s ability to detect and stop outbreaks before they spread; and protect global health security.
The 2014–16 Ebola response led to valuable lessons about how to prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks as well as how all sectors must come together to protect and save lives when time is crucial. The CDC Foundation—with generous and rapid financial support from philanthropies, corporations and individuals—provided essential resources to bolster CDC’s work and put immediate resources on the ground.
PLANNING FOR FUTURE EMERGENCIES
The current situation in DRC, and CDC's previous Ebola responses, remind us that disease threats can spread rapidly and unpredictably. The CDC Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund helps ensure CDC has an additional source of funding to fill gaps and address critical, in-the-moment needs that save and protect lives during health emergencies.
Fighting infectious diseases at the source is crucial to protect and save lives at home and abroad. You are vital to stopping Ebola in DRC. Give today to the CDC Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund to save lives and protect the health, safety and security of America and the world