The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will commit up to $100 million in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak. The funding is divided into three initiatives: $60 million to accelerate the discovery, development and testing of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics for 2019-nCoV; $20 million to detect, isolate and treat people who have the virus with the goal of containing the disease; and $20 million to help public health authorities in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia populations who live in extreme poverty and tend to suffer disproportionately from global epidemics. In late January, the Foundation earmarked $10 million to help victims of the outbreak, which is part of the $100 million total now promised.

The Gates Foundations said the $60 million for vaccines, treatments and diagnostics will be necessary for long-term disease control and to lower the incidence of severe disease and deaths. The foundation will supply R&D funding to help global partners, such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness. The money will fill gaps in the R&D landscape, provide incentives for product development and ensure that products are safe, effective and widely available.

The $20 million for detection is an early priority for the foundation. The Gates Foundation said the funds will be directed to multilateral organizations such as WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as national public health authorities in China and other countries that have reported confirmed cases. These include the National Health Commission of China and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The foundation said the money will allow public health authorities to cover the initial cost of labor and supplies while international agencies and national governments appropriate the resources necessary to fund ongoing operations.

The $20 million to help public health authorities in disadvantaged regions will be aimed at improving emergency operations centers, providing effective disease surveillance and building capacity to isolate and treat confirmed case

"Multilateral organizations, national governments, the private sector and philanthropies must work together to slow the pace of the outbreak, help countries protect their most vulnerable citizens and accelerate the development of the tools to bring this epidemic under control," said Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman. "Our hope is that these resources will help catalyze a rapid and effective international response. This response should be guided by science, not fear, and it should build on the steps that the World Health Organization has taken to date."

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Disclosure: none.