The United States has announced an additional $80 million funding package to support efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The funding, announced on Thursday, brings total US assistance to $112 million since the outbreak began, according to the State Department.
Officials said the funds will be deployed for protective equipment for health workers, border screening measures, diagnostic test kits and other emergency response needs.
“The US government continues a comprehensive and coordinated response to contain the Ebola outbreak at its source to protect the American people and prevent further international spread,” the State Department said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier pledged to prevent the spread of Ebola into the United States.
The announcement comes amid criticism from Democratic lawmakers and non-governmental organisations over Washington’s handling of the crisis, particularly following the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the restructuring of the USAID aid agency.
According to the WHO, the outbreak has recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo since it was declared on May 15, with more than 1,000 suspected and confirmed cases.
Health officials warn that the actual spread of the virus is likely far wider than current figures suggest.
