WHO Ebola chief says U.S. absence hampers DRC outbreak response

Summary

Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, discusses the challenges of containing a rapidly developing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He reflects on the absence of U.S. colleagues from key health agencies (CDC, NIH, USAID) due to funding cuts and staffing reductions, describing the situation as 'painful' and a major setback for global health security. The outbreak, declared on May 15, has spread quickly to urban areas including Bunia, raising fears of a larger epidemic. Ihekweazu emphasizes the critical role U.S. health agencies have historically played in outbreak response and the significant gap their absence creates.