A veteran of past Ebola fights is sounding an alarm about the one now unfolding in central Africa—and he argues it could surpass anything the world has seen. Writing for the New York Times, Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International and a former senior USAID official, says the current outbreak in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda combines the worst features of earlier crises: It spread undetected for months, is unfolding in densely populated conflict zones, and involves a strain without approved vaccines or treatments. Konyndyk notes that the 2014 outbreak in West Africa and 2018 outbreak in eastern Congo were eventually contained only after massive, coordinated engagement led by wealthy countries and the World Health Organization.
"As bad as this [current] situation is, we have a playbook for addressing such crises," Konyndyk notes. "But it requires a huge team effort"—one he says is being stymied by the United States, thanks to its closure of assisting agencies like USAID, slashing of staff at the CDC, and pulling out of the WHO. With millions in Congo displaced, mistrust of health workers growing, and responders lacking in resources, Konyndyk urges a rapid, large-scale global response before Ebola gains a decisive edge. "The task ahead is enormous," and "the virus has a dangerous head start," he notes. "Ebola can still be contained—but only if the world finds the will to do it." For his full argument and supporting data, more here.
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