Public health workers said U.S. cuts to global health funding have impeded the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, slowing deployment of personnel, laboratory supplies and community engagement teams to Ituri Province.
Field responders described shortages of protective equipment and difficulty maintaining surveillance networks that depend on international partnerships. WHO confirmed the Bundibugyo outbreak on May 15 after high-mortality cases emerged in Mongbwalu and Rwampara health zones.
Unlike previous Ebola emergencies where U.S. agencies played major logistical roles, reduced appropriations have left gaps filled unevenly by other donors. Experts said impoverished communities near mining areas face compounded risks from malnutrition and limited clinic access.
Advocates urged Congress to restore global health security accounts, arguing that delayed assistance increases eventual costs if the virus spreads to urban centers or neighboring nations. WHO continues coordinating trial preparations for experimental treatments while case counts climb past 800 suspected infections.
WHO listed 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths in initial May 15 reporting before totals climbed further later in the month. Community health workers in Ituri described difficulty reaching mining camps where transient laborers may carry infection across district lines. International NGOs said reduced U.S. global health appropriations delayed shipment of gloves, chlorine and burial teams needed for safe outbreak response.
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Sources:
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/5/22/ebola_outbreak