Health 2 September 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
US Donates Experimental Ebola Treatment to Uganda Amidst Regional Outbreak
The United States has provided Uganda's Ministry of Health with vials of MBP134, an experimental antibody treatment for Ebola, to bolster defenses against a neighboring outbreak. Source: https://observer.ug/news/ebola-us-donates-death-preventing-treatment-to-uganda
The United States government has bolstered Uganda’s health security by donating vials of an experimental Ebola antibody treatment, known as MBP134. This significant contribution aims to provide a critical safeguard against potential fatalities should the virus reach Ugandan borders.
Dr. Charles Ayume, the State Minister for Health in charge of primary health care, formally received the donation. Although Uganda currently has no confirmed Ebola cases, the persistent outbreak of the Bundibugyo species in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) presents a substantial and immediate risk.
According to US officials, the DRC outbreak has become the most extensive recorded Ebola outbreak outside of West Africa, with the number of confirmed cases exceeding 4,500 and fatalities surpassing 2,000 by mid-August 2026. US Chargé d’Affaires Mikael Cleverley emphasized that this donation underscores a commitment to global health security, stating, “A safer Uganda means a safer world. By helping Uganda act within hours rather than days, the United States is also protecting Americans. An outbreak anywhere is a threat everywhere.”
The experimental treatment, MBP134, was developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical in collaboration with BARDA, an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services. Its design allows it to swiftly recognize and neutralize the Ebola virus, potentially acting faster than the body’s natural immune response. Pre-clinical studies indicate its effectiveness against multiple Ebola species, including the one currently circulating in the DRC.
MBP134 is not yet commercially available and is being supplied for compassionate use, enabling medical professionals to administer it to severely ill patients while further research into its efficacy continues. This donation is part of a wider US strategy to enhance Ebola preparedness and response across the region, with over $619 million allocated to support these efforts.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)