LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The United Kingdom has stepped up emergency support to fight a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa after hundreds of suspected infections were reported in the conflict-hit Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to the latest figures released on Wednesday, the outbreak has recorded about 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths.
Rising fears of cross-border transmission, laboratory testing has so far also confirmed 51 Ebola infections in Congo, while neighbouring Uganda has confirmed two cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the outbreak is likely to expand further if urgent containment efforts are not strengthened.
For global health officials, the crisis goes beyond a regional health emergency.
The outbreak is now being viewed as a major test of how quickly countries can respond to deadly infectious diseases in areas already struggling with armed violence, weak healthcare systems, displacement and humanitarian instability.
In response, the United Kingdom announced a fresh emergency funding package aimed at supporting humanitarian operations in affected communities.
The intervention will assist the WHO, UN agencies and frontline aid groups working to improve disease surveillance, infection prevention, emergency treatment and healthcare protection.
READ ALSO: WHO Weighs Experimental Vaccines As Deadly Ebola Crisis Spreads In DR Congo
British officials also revealed that part of the funding will help improve water supply, sanitation systems, protective equipment distribution and maternity support for vulnerable populations facing increased health risks during the outbreak.
Most confirmed Ebola infections remain concentrated in Congo’s Ituri region, where ongoing insecurity has repeatedly disrupted humanitarian work and slowed emergency medical responses.
Also, the outbreak has prompted precautionary actions within Britain.
The UK Health Security Agency is now assessing travel routes used by passengers arriving from affected countries while monitoring individuals travelling to outbreak zones for work-related purposes.
British authorities have therefore updated travel guidance for parts of Congo, warning citizens against all but essential travel to some high-risk areas.
The UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed the global danger posed by fast-spreading infectious diseases.
“It is vital we act now to save lives, outbreaks like Ebola do not stop at borders, and neither can we,” she said.
She added that Britain was combining emergency financial support with technical expertise to help stop the virus from spreading further.
READ ALSO: DR Congo Ebola Deaths Rise To 131 Amid Uganda Spread
Although British health officials say the immediate risk to the UK public remains low, authorities confirmed the situation is being closely monitored.
The United States has also launched its own emergency response in recent days, highlighting growing international concern over the outbreak’s escalation.
The U.S. government announced an initial $13 million emergency assistance package to support laboratory testing, border screening, safe burial operations, treatment centres, surveillance systems and public awareness campaigns in affected countries.
According to the US Department of State, Washington has activated a coordinated response involving the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USAID and other agencies to help Congo and Uganda contain the virus before it spreads internationally.
The renewed international response reflects lessons learned from the devastating 2014 to 2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone while causing severe economic damage.
Ultimately, the latest outbreak is unfolding during a particularly sensitive period for Congo, a country rich in critical minerals such as cobalt, copper and coltan, which are widely used in electric vehicle batteries, defence systems and global technology supply chains.
Health experts warn that if Ebola spreads into larger cities or additional neighbouring countries, both the humanitarian and economic consequences could become far more severe.
