Uganda: U.S. Steps Up Ebola Support to Uganda With Delivery of Antibody Treatment

What the report says

The United States has delivered an experimental Ebola antibody treatment, MBP134, to Uganda as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s preparedness against a possible cross-border spread of disease from the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to AllAfrica’s reporting based on The Independent (Kampala). The handover took place on Aug. 27 to Uganda’s Ministry of Health. Ugandan authorities currently report no active Ebola cases, and the World Health Organization declared the country Ebola-free on the same date, but U.S. officials said the risk remains because of ongoing outbreaks and population movement along the border.

The treatment was received by Dr. Charles Ayume, minister of state for health in charge of primary health care. U.S. officials said the vials are meant for immediate use if a new case is detected and are part of broader support that includes laboratory systems, surveillance, contact tracing, border screening, emergency operations and community engagement. The U.S. said the visit by a senior delegation in July helped assess preparedness in Kampala and along the western border, including Entebbe International Airport, the Vurra entry point and public health laboratories in Arua.

The embassy described MBP134 as a medical countermeasure developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical under a U.S. government contract and said it has shown activity in pre-clinical studies against multiple Ebola species, including Bundibugyo. The treatment is not sold commercially and is available for compassionate use. The donation comes amid wider U.S. funding for regional Ebola and humanitarian response, though the article notes differing funding totals in separate U.S. statements.