OSLO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Norway will contribute 50 million Norwegian kroner (5.39 million U.S. dollars) to the World Health Organization's Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) following a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with confirmed imported cases in Uganda, the Norwegian government said Friday.
"When dangerous diseases break out, every hour counts. We must be able to respond immediately, before the situation escalates," said Norwegian Minister of International Development Aasmund Aukrust in a press release.
The fund can release resources within 24 hours, and WHO has already disbursed 3.9 million U.S. dollars to support the response to the Ebola outbreak, according to the release.
The outbreak was confirmed on May 15 in Ituri province in northeast DRC. The WHO later determined that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern."
The Norwegian government said conflict, large population movements and weak government control have made contact tracing and response efforts difficult, increasing the risk of further spread within the DRC and to neighboring countries.
Several of Norway's partners are supporting efforts in contact tracing, laboratory capacity, treatment and community information. Norway's long-term partnerships with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the Pandemic Fund will also play a role in the continued response, according to the release. ■