WASHINGTON, October 13, 2026 — The World Bank Group is expanding its support for ongoing government and regional led efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak, protect frontline health workers and affected communities, sustain essential health services, and save lives. To date, the Group has committed $426.6 million to the overall Ebola emergency response, through a combination of existing and new grant and concessional financing.
This support includes two new tranches of financing: $80 million to reinforce the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) national response and $13 million to help neighboring countries and regional institutions strengthen regional preparedness, coordination, and cross-border health security through the ongoing Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPRR) program.
- Health emergencies don’t wait, and neither did we. From the very first days of this outbreak, we mobilized our full range of financing instruments and technical assistance to work alongside the Congolese government and to support its people — making resources available quickly, staying present on the ground, and scaling up our support as the situation evolved. The new financing is a continuation of that commitment.Albert ZeufackWorld Bank Division Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo
In the DRC, $80 million in additional financing will strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, clinical case management, infection prevention and control, and community engagement in affected areas. The HEPRR project is already delivering tangible results, building on years of investment in preparedness, surveillance, laboratories and resilient health systems. Detection timelines have improved from 10 days at the start of the outbreak to one to two days by September 2026. The project has also deployed national technical experts to Bunia, where they are needed the most to reinforce the provincial response; delivered 104 Radione diagnostic platforms and 70,000 tests for the Bundibugyo Virus Disease; supplied 340 tons of medicines and medical equipment to improve patient care and sustain essential health services; and financed vehicles to strengthen epidemiological surveillance.
Protecting vulnerable people remains central to this support. Financing will also help sustain maternal and child health services in Ituri, the epicenter of the disease, so that the outbreak does not increase risks for women and newborns. It will also help protect livelihoods in affected communities and enable children to continue attending school safely.
In Uganda, the government—with the support of the World Bank Group and other partners—officially declared the outbreak over on July 28, 2026.
Across the region, $13 million in additional financing will build on the Group’s support through the Africa CDC and strengthen emergency preparedness, response, and resilience in 11 countries. The financing will enable the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to intensify technical support and cross-country coordination. Investments will strengthen surveillance and laboratory systems, expanded health workforce development, digital health screening at key points of entry, and measures to reduce the risk of Ebola spreading across borders.
The World Bank Group will continue to work alongside the Government of the DRC, its neighboring countries that are vulnerable to the outbreak, regional institutions, affected communities, and other partners to contain the outbreak, respond to evolving needs, and strengthen preparedness for future health emergencies. By aligning financing and technical support with national and regional priorities, the Group will also help strengthen health security and build more resilient health systems that protect lives and livelihoods across borders.
