The issue: To address urgent gaps in the response to a growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the CDC Foundation is mobilizing philanthropic support through its Emergency Response Fund to deploy flexible resources and extend critical public health efforts. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no vaccine, heightening the need for a coordinated response in regions facing significant humanitarian and logistical challenges, including insecurity, population movement and limited healthcare infrastructure.
Through its Emergency Response Fund, the CDC Foundation helps bridge funding gaps—working alongside public health partners to strengthen response capacity and prevent further spread. During the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, the largest outbreak ever recorded, the CDC Foundation mobilized donor support to deliver essential supplies and bolster response operations on the ground.
Why it matters: Ebola outbreaks can escalate quickly. Without a vaccine and rapid, coordinated action, transmission can accelerate and strain already limited health systems.
Solution and impact: Philanthropic support enables the CDC Foundation to extend high-impact response efforts, such as:
*Supporting rapid identification of cases and contact tracing to control transmission
*Enabling isolation and treatment of people affected by Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD)
*Strengthening laboratory capacity and diagnostic systems to detect and track cases
*Expanding infection prevention, sanitation and safe treatment environments
*Supporting community engagement and safe, dignified burial practices
The CDC Foundation mobilizes flexible resources to deliver critical supplies, personnel and operational support in real time—helping public health partners strengthen and scale response efforts across affected regions.
How you can help: We have a narrow window to prevent a major outbreak. This is a moment where philanthropy can have an incredible impact. Your support doesn’t just help—it fundamentally changes the trajectory of the outbreak, reducing the risk of catastrophic spread from likely to unlikely.