Progress made in addressing the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak could stall without further funding, the World Health Organization said Feb. 26.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said $148 million in funding is needed to continue Ebola response efforts. At present, only $10 million has been pledged.
"We have a shared responsibility to end this outbreak," Dr. Tedros said in a press release. "No country or partner can face this deadly virus alone. … Beating Ebola, wherever it may be, is expensive. It requires all of us to work together."
As of Feb. 25, Congo health officials reported 872 confirmed and probable Ebola cases linked to the outbreak, along with 548 deaths.
"The situation is unprecedented: there has never been an Ebola outbreak in these conditions, with such a highly mobile population and with many gaps in the health system," Dr. Tedros said.