MEDIA NOTE: Ebola Response Update – June 5, 2026
The U.S. Department of State issued a media note on June 5, 2026 announcing an additional $38 million in funding for its Ebola response, bringing direct State Department contributions to over $200 million and part of a broader $1.8 billion U.S. commitment to UN OCHA humanitarian assistance in the DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda. The note emphasizes protecting American citizens through travel advisories, a voluntary departure assistance process, and enrollment in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). It details U.S.-funded partner activities across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, including commodity procurement and delivery (IOM, UNICEF), border screening and surveillance enhancements, extensive contact tracing and risk‑communication campaigns (World Vision, Momentum Integrated Health Resilience, UNICEF), safe and dignified burial support, diagnostic capacity expansion (FHI 360), detection and treatment training (International Medical Corps), and food assistance for patients and healthcare workers (World Food Programme). The United States is highlighted as the largest financial contributor to the Ebola response. No update is provided on the Kenya facility.
Topics
Additional $38 Million Funding Boosts U.S. Ebola Response
Announcement of nearly $38 million in new State Department funding, raising direct contributions to over $200 million and situating the effort within a $1.8 billion U.S. humanitarian package to UN OCHA.
Protecting Americans: Travel Guidance and STEP Enrollment
Details of the voluntary departure assistance process for U.S. citizens in the DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda, and a strong recommendation to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for real‑time updates.
Commodity Procurement and Delivery to DRC and Uganda
IOM’s delivery of thermo‑scanners, communications gear, and WASH supplies; UNICEF’s distribution of WASH and infection‑prevention supplies to treatment centers and high‑risk facilities.
Enhanced Border Screening and Surveillance at Points of Entry
IOM’s infrastructure upgrades at DRC airports and deployment of over 100 screeners and data clerks at 13 Ugandan entry points to strengthen disease surveillance.
Contact Tracing, Risk Communication, and Community Engagement
World Vision’s door‑to‑door campaigns reaching 400,000 people; Momentum Integrated Health Resilience’s training of 1,500 health and community actors; UNICEF’s training of 650 community health workers; support for safe and dignified burials.