Ebola Outbreak and U.S. Response
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has prompted the Trump administration to shift blame towards the World Health Organization (WHO), showcasing what experts describe as a significant misunderstanding of how global disease management operates.
In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, health workers are grappling with the outbreak, struggling with insufficient resources, testing kits, and lack of international help. Complicating matters is a rare strain of the virus known as Bundibugyo, which standard tests tend to overlook and for which no vaccines or treatments exist. Reports indicate at least 62 fatalities in Congo and one in Uganda, though experts suggest these numbers are likely much lower due to the outbreak’s origin in a remote, conflict-ridden area.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “The outbreak had a big head start, and we’re still behind,” during a visit to the outbreak’s center, adding that catching up will take time. Some African health officials estimate it could take nine months or more to get the situation under control.
Critics argue that Trump administration policies—like dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development and withdrawing from WHO—have weakened global health security and impaired the outbreak’s response. Previously, the U.S. was the primary source of humanitarian assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo, financing about 70% of health interventions there. A 2025 report from Physicians for Human Rights highlighted that aid reductions have “severely harmed” efforts in public health and combating infectious diseases. Reports also suggest that the Trump administration restricted communication between U.S. health officials and their WHO counterparts.
In light of increasing criticism regarding the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott criticized WHO and praised Trump’s actions, arguing that security concerns in the region have delayed the response until mid-May.
Health experts contend Pigott’s remarks display a fundamental misunderstanding of infectious disease control. Margaret Harris, a former senior WHO official, commented, “It reveals a lack of understanding about… what a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ actually is.”
On May 5, WHO raised alarms about a high-mortality outbreak in Congo’s Ituri Province. By May 14, blood samples were analyzed, confirming Bundibugyo virus disease a day later.
Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, explained that the affected countries have the primary responsibility. “WHO does not declare. It’s the member states who declare,” he clarified.
According to Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire from WHO Africa, the protocol requires countries to declare outbreaks first, post which WHO provides support. She emphasized that this process is outlined in international health regulations.
Experts note that the response is significantly quicker compared to past outbreaks. For instance, in the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis in West Africa, WHO delayed declaring a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” for months after becoming aware of the outbreak.
Harris points out that any delay is not WHO’s fault, stressing the importance of support for local healthcare workers instead. “The silence of the outbreak is not something you could lay at the feet of WHO,” she argued. “You lay that at the feet of a very fragile health system in a conflict zone.”
The number of suspected Ebola cases in Congo has dropped significantly, with many initially suspected cases identified as malaria. This points to enduring healthcare challenges in the region, illustrating a need for a broader public health effort.
Dr. Tedros highlighted that Ebola is only one threat these communities are facing, noting concerns from local leaders that the response to Ebola may divert essential services from other health and humanitarian needs.
Criticism has been leveled against the Trump administration for its decision to invest in an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya, with many medical professionals urging that Americans exposed to the virus should be treated in the U.S. In a letter to Congress, they argued it raises “profound legal, ethical, and human rights concerns.”
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the policy to prevent Americans with Ebola from receiving care domestically, prompting concern that such decisions may send a misguided message about handling the outbreak.
Harris noted that this strategy makes little sense, considering Kenya has no history of Ebola outbreaks. She suggested that setting up treatment facilities in Congo, where healthcare expertise already exists from previous outbreaks, would have been a more sensible option.
“You’ve got one of the best health systems in the world, and you’ve got some of the brightest and best in the world in your country,” Harris stated. “So why aren’t you mobilizing them?”
