New bill aims to boost US aid in fight against Ebola outbreak - Senator

A newly introduced bill in the US Congress would increase Washington's contribution to combat the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Senator Bob Menendez said in a press release.

"The Ebola Eradication Act of 2019 specifically authorizes USAID to provide assistance aimed at improving access to communities affected by Ebola notwithstanding any other provision of law," Menendez said on Tuesday.

The Trump administration last year slashed US assistance to the DRC, citing the country's low ranking on the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP).

Based on the report, the DRC is classified as Tier 3 country, which means its government does not meet the minimum standards to combat human trafficking and may be sanctioned, the release said.

DRC Health Ministry said on Friday that more than 1,000 people have died from the virus since August 2018.

DRC Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga said last week that this outbreak had gone beyond the public health's competence as it was necessary to unite the efforts of all ministries under the coordination of the Prime Minister and the President in order to put an end to the epidemic.

The Ebola virus is a deadly disease that is spread through blood and body fluid. Symptoms include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, diarrhea.