In response to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, Switzerland releases $3,8 million in emergency aid.

Switzerland has announced the release of 3 million Swiss francs (over 3,8 million dollars) in emergency aid to support the fight against the new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Swiss authorities aim to bolster medical and humanitarian capacities in regions already weakened by armed conflict.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) indicated that the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain against which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. More than 900 suspected cases have already been identified, of which about 100 have been confirmed.

Congolese authorities have also reported 220 suspected deaths, including 10 officially confirmed cases. The epidemic is mainly affecting the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, areas facing insecurity, massive population displacements, and difficulties in humanitarian access.

According to Swiss authorities, over 2 million francs will be donated to the World Health Organization to support the deployment of emergency medical teams, laboratory capacity, and technical assistance in the field. An additional 500,000 francs will fund maternal and child health programs, as well as epidemiological surveillance and prevention activities.

In addition, 400,000 Swiss francs will be allocated to the NGO Medair for projects focused on the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the most affected regions. Switzerland also plans to send two humanitarian specialists to support the United Nations agencies involved in managing the crisis.

The World Health Organization recently warned that the epidemic was spreading rapidly. Its Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the virus was spreading "faster than we can keep up." The WHO now considers the situation a global health emergency, while several neighboring African countries are also considered at risk.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, ten African countries could be at risk of an Ebola outbreak, including Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi. While the risk of global spread is still considered low, international health authorities are closely monitoring the epidemic, particularly due to outbreaks detected in urban areas and among healthcare workers.