Russia has expressed readiness to assist in controlling the ongoing Ebola outbreak affecting parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to support international efforts aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.
Russia’s consumer health regulator, Rospotrebnadzor, also disclosed plans to deploy medical specialists to Uganda following a formal request from the government.
The development comes as the World Health Organization intensifies efforts to contain the outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Health authorities report that the outbreak has killed at least 139 people and infected more than 500 others across 11 health zones in eastern DRC, with additional confirmed cases in Uganda.
The WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, citing its severity and cross-border spread.
Response efforts have been further complicated by ongoing armed conflict in eastern DRC, where militia activity has restricted access to affected communities and disrupted contact tracing operations.
Meanwhile, the United States has pledged $23 million in emergency support and plans to establish up to 50 treatment centres in the affected regions to strengthen containment efforts.
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