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WHO head ‘deeply concerned’ by Ebola outbreak as cases and deaths rise in DRC

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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Avril Benoit

Ashish Jha

Michael Osterholm

Stefano M. Bertozzi

Lawrence Gostin

Atlas Institute

Thomas J Bollyky

Steve Cohen

Tom Frieden

Jesse Bump

"If the U.S. withdraws from the WHO, it would severely weaken global health initiatives, disrupt pandemic preparedness efforts, and diminish U.S. influence over international health policy."

"If the United States is no longer a member of WHO, Americans around the world would be more susceptible to disease, but they could also carry it back to the United States and infect multitudes."

"It means we are going to see a lot more disease outbreaks become regional and global, and we will see more disease outbreaks from other countries coming into the U.S."

"The bottom line is that withdrawing from the WHO makes Americans and the world less safe."

"Public health disasters that don't have to happen will happen, because those capacities aren't there anymore [because of the US withdrawal from the WHO]."

"President Trump's decision to withdraw from the WHO could have life-threatening consequences for people in the humanitarian contexts where we work as well as in the US."

Will the US Withdrawal from the WHO Affect Public Health?

The WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, 2026 — the first time a WHO director-general has done so before convening an emergency committee.

The WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, 2026 — the first time a WHO director-general has done so before convening an emergency committee.

As of May 19, 2026, the DRC's health ministry reported 513 suspected cases and 131 suspected deaths, while 30 cases had been confirmed in Ituri province and two imported cases were confirmed in Uganda's capital, Kampala.

The Diplomaticinsight

As of May 19, 2026, the DRC's health ministry reported 513 suspected cases and 131 suspected deaths, while 30 cases had been confirmed in Ituri province and two imported cases were confirmed in Uganda's capital, Kampala.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist. Early detection was delayed because initial tests in Bunia screened only for the more common Zaire strain, creating a roughly four-week gap before the outbreak was identified.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist. Early detection was delayed because initial tests in Bunia screened only for the more common Zaire strain, creating a roughly four-week gap before the outbreak was identified.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus convened an emergency committee meeting on May 19 to advise on temporary recommendations, and the WHO approved $3.9 million in emergency funding to support national authorities responding to the outbreak.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus convened an emergency committee meeting on May 19 to advise on temporary recommendations, and the WHO approved $3.9 million in emergency funding to support national authorities responding to the outbreak.

Experts are evaluating whether Merck's Ervebo vaccine, approved for the Zaire strain of Ebola, could offer partial protection against Bundibugyo, based on limited primate studies. A WHO technical advisory group met Tuesday to recommend which potential vaccine should be prioritized.

Experts are evaluating whether Merck's Ervebo vaccine, approved for the Zaire strain of Ebola, could offer partial protection against Bundibugyo, based on limited primate studies. A WHO technical advisory group met Tuesday to recommend which potential vaccine should be prioritized.

WHO's representative in the DRC warned the outbreak is unlikely to end within two months, citing a previous Ebola outbreak that lasted two years. Factors complicating containment include ongoing conflict, over 100,000 newly displaced people and the absence of approved countermeasures.

WHO's representative in the DRC warned the outbreak is unlikely to end within two months, citing a previous Ebola outbreak that lasted two years. Factors complicating containment include ongoing conflict, over 100,000 newly displaced people and the absence of approved countermeasures.

WHO Declares Ebola Emergency in DRC and Uganda

WHO emergencyDeclares meeting on Ebola outbreakEmergency in DRC and Uganda

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