Gates Foundation Announces $15 Million Emergency Support for Ebola Response

Seattle (May 2026)—The Gates Foundation has announced a $15 million emergency fund contribution in response to the Ebola virus (Bundibugyo strain) outbreak currently occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and the communities facing this uncertain situation. We also honor the dedication of health care workers, testing teams, emergency responders, and community volunteers working on the front lines to save lives.

Ebola outbreaks carry a risk of cross-border expansion, and no single country or institution can contain the spread alone. Currently, both the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and regional partners, are leading critical efforts focused on containing the spread, strengthening regional preparedness, and enhancing cross-border cooperation. We strongly support the "one plan, one budget, one team" approach directed by African-led response partners, which focuses on rapid containment and practical collaboration.

The Gates Foundation is contributing $15 million in emergency funds to support this response through organizations already operating in the region. The goal is to utilize the majority of resources as close as possible to the affected countries and communities:

- Africa CDC: $5 million (regional coordination, emergency response, cross-border outbreak surveillance, etc.)
- WHO Regional Office for Africa: $5 million (field response support in each country)
- WHO Headquarters: $5 million (rapid procurement of necessary supplies, diagnostics, and logistics support during demand spikes)

The foundation also supports the collaboration between the Africa CDC and the WHO Regional Office for Africa through the "Joint Emergency Action Plan (JEAP)." This is a framework aimed at strengthening coordination during health crises and providing more unified emergency support to governments. This current outbreak highlights the importance of leveraging this partnership to ensure countries receive coordinated, timely support rather than fragmented, parallel responses.

We continue to support the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, including funding for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). However, as there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, our immediate priorities are rapid detection, strong public health measures, protection for frontline health workers, and cooperation to stop the spread as quickly as possible.

In the early stages of an infectious disease outbreak, each day can determine the outcome. Early collaboration and swift action are the keys to containment versus widespread regional expansion. We will continue to work closely with governments, the Africa CDC, the WHO, and other partners to monitor the situation and scrutinize areas where additional support may be needed in the coming weeks.