CDC Foundation Supports Guinea and DRC as Countries Face New Ebola Outbreaks
In 2014, the world watched as the largest outbreak of Ebola took too many lives across West Africa. The outbreak that ultimately claimed 11,000 lives started in Guinea, where they are now seeing their first new cases of Ebola since 2016. Simultaneously, another Ebola outbreak is continuing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). From these past outbreaks, we know the time is now to lend support, so the CDC Foundation is providing initial support of $500,000 to be used as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) coordinated response with local public health authorities to conduct contact tracing, active case finding and investigation of Ebola cases.
“Right now, it is critical to take steps to strengthen the responses in Guinea and DRC,” said Judy Monroe, MD, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. “From experience, we know how important it is to respond urgently to an outbreak—and we know the consequences when we do not. While this initial support will make an immediate difference, more support will be needed to aid Guinea and DRC and ensure the outbreaks do not spread to other nations in West Africa or other parts of the world.”
This funding will also support essential transportation, facility improvements and communications to aid in the response. While this initial commitment provides a base of funding to bolster the response, the CDC Foundation is working to bring forward additional support from donors that can be used to meet immediate, on-the-ground needs to help end these outbreaks.
The CDC Foundation has the ability to ensure these surveillance and response activities are conducted in a timely and efficient manner, providing the opportunity to have an impact early on against the outbreak.
Importantly, the CDC Foundation through the support of our donors aided previous Ebola responses. During the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which included Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the CDC Foundation supported the establishment of emergency operations centers in each nation; provided funding to hire in-country staff for the response; purchased computers equipped with software and printers for use in the field by in-country staff; purchased and deployed vehicles and motorcycles to ensure much needed transportation for response activities and more.
Today, you have an opportunity to again have impact in helping to end these latest deadly outbreaks. You can step forward today and lend a hand by donating to the CDC Foundation’s Emergency Response for Ebola.
