A new strain of Ebola is wreaking havoc in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with hundreds of suspected cases and mounting fatalities, while the United States is conspicuously absent from efforts to control the outbreak. This crisis has been exacerbated by severe cuts to US public health funding and the dismantling of vital agencies, leaving the DRC’s already fragile healthcare system to fend for itself.
A Disturbing Resurgence of Ebola
The Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, which has caused sporadic outbreaks in the past, has resurfaced in central Africa, with health officials scrambling to assess and contain its spread. As of mid-May 2026, there have been 482 suspected cases and approximately 116 deaths reported within the DRC, alongside two confirmed cases and one fatality in Uganda. Concerns are growing about the virus potentially reaching neighbouring South Sudan. Kristian Andersen, a professor at Scripps Research, indicated that the outbreak may have been ongoing for months before detection.
In a swift response, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) before convening the relevant committee, highlighting the urgency of the matter. Officials warn that this crisis could persist for months, with the DRC’s already vulnerable health infrastructure facing overwhelming pressure.
The Consequences of Funding Cuts
The disbandment of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has had a catastrophic impact on the DRC’s ability to respond to health crises. Funding for foreign assistance to the DRC plummeted from $1.4 billion in 2024 to a mere $431 million in 2025, with just $21 million allocated so far in 2026. Uganda has similarly suffered a decline in US aid. Matthew Kavanagh, director of the Center for Global Health Policy and Politics at Georgetown University, expressed grave concerns, noting that the abrupt cessation of support has severely disrupted essential health services in the region.
“Without adequate funding, you essentially dismantle the very systems that are crucial for early detection and response,” Kavanagh stated. He emphasized that the loss of surveillance efforts, particularly in the face of rising infectious diseases, is a “self-inflicted wound” that the US government has brought upon itself.
A Retreat from Global Health Leadership
The US’s withdrawal from its role as a global health leader is further underscored by its decision to cut ties with the WHO and terminate $130 million in funding, resulting in thousands of job losses within the organisation. Anderson remarked that the US is not merely stepping back but is “upending the table,” indicating a complete disengagement from critical conversations surrounding global health.
The cuts have left key positions in US health agencies vacant, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has historically played a pivotal role in outbreak responses. The CDC’s Ebola response teams have been suspended, and essential resources for tackling the virus have been drastically reduced. As a result, the DRC now faces the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising Ebola threat with limited support and resources.
The Urgent Need for Action
Health experts warn that without immediate action, the outbreak could spiral further out of control, with dire implications for the region. “This is an out-of-control epidemic that has now crossed borders,” Kavanagh warned. Local health leaders in the DRC are equipped with knowledge and experience, but they are now challenged to combat the outbreak with severely diminished resources.
Andersen noted that African scientists have already made significant strides in sequencing the virus, demonstrating the potential for effective local responses. However, he cautioned that the complete withdrawal of US support is detrimental to global health security.
Why it Matters
The ongoing Ebola outbreak not only threatens the lives of those in the DRC and surrounding areas but also poses a significant risk to global health stability. As disease outbreaks have the potential to escalate into international crises, the lack of US engagement in preventive measures raises troubling ethical questions. Allowing preventable deaths to occur due to negligence in mobilising necessary resources is both immoral and shortsighted. The world must recognise that infectious diseases can be contained, but this requires a concerted effort and commitment to strengthening global health systems—an obligation that cannot be ignored.