The United States government has announced a sweeping, multi-agency intervention to contain a rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in East and Central Africa, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain for which no licensed vaccine currently exists.
The United States Department of State confirmed it has activated an incident management system and authorized an initial $13 million in foreign assistance to support emergency operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The deployment comes amid escalating regional concern, following alerts from the World Health Organization and Africa CDC, which have described the outbreak as a serious international health threat.
In a major preventive move, the U.S. government, working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued a Title 42 order restricting entry into the United States for foreign nationals who have travelled through the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within the past 21 days.
The State Department said the measures are intended to prevent further spread while strengthening containment efforts in affected regions.
“By working to contain the outbreak before it reaches American shores, the United States is protecting the health of Americans at home and abroad,” the State Department said.
An interagency coordination cell has been activated in Washington, bringing together the Department of Homeland Security, CDC, the State Department and the U.S. military to align response efforts and prepare for possible evacuation of exposed citizens.
The outbreak, first detected in early May in the Ituri Province of eastern DRC, has been worsened by insecurity, displacement and weak health infrastructure. Authorities also reported confirmed cases in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, linked to cross-border movement.
The crisis has further intensified regional pressure, with border disruptions reported around key transit hubs such as Goma, where humanitarian access has been affected.
Health experts warn that the Bundibugyo strain remains especially concerning due to the absence of a licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, meaning response efforts rely heavily on isolation, contact tracing and supportive care.