Congo’s Ebola Outbreak Tests Global Response After USAID Cut

A new outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed at least 15 people, including four health workers, raising fears of a wider crisis in a country already overwhelmed by conflict and a weakened health system.

The outbreak, declared on September 4 after 28 suspected cases were reported, comes at a time when global health preparedness is under scrutiny, following significant cuts in U.S. funding for international aid.

The World Health Organization confirmed that the Zaire ebolavirus strain, the deadliest of all Ebola variants with a fatality rate of up to 90%, is responsible for this wave. The epicenter is a remote area in Southern Congo, where reaching patients can take a day by road from the nearest provincial capital.

Ebola is one of the world’s most dangerous pathogens, capable of causing severe hemorrhaging and multi-organ failure. Around half of those infected die, although survival rates vary with the quality of care. The first recorded case in this outbreak was a 34-year-old pregnant woman who died just five days after being hospitalized in late August.

Congo has faced 15 outbreaks since the disease was first identified in 1976. While smaller flare-ups have been contained quickly, major epidemics have devastated populations. The 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak killed more than 11,000 people, while another in 2018 claimed over 2,000 lives.

What makes this outbreak especially concerning is the timing. The DRC is grappling with an under-resourced health system, worsening conflict in the east, and concurrent outbreaks of mpox, cholera, and measles. Adding to the strain, the U.S, historically a key player in Ebola responses, has reduced funding for global health security.

In previous outbreaks, U.S. agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and USAID provided crucial support, from training epidemiologists and supplying vaccines to setting up labs and treatment centers. There are worries that these setbacks could hinder rapid containment efforts now.

The country currently has about 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, enough to inoculate frontline health workers and those in direct contact with patients. However, with cases likely to rise, officials are calling for more doses and additional resources to avoid a repeat of past crises. Two antibody treatments exist for Ebola, but they are in short supply and require specialized handling.

Although Ebola spreads through bodily fluids rather than the air, making it less contagious than many respiratory diseases, its high fatality rate and potential for international spread make it a global security concern. During the 2014 epidemic, the virus traveled beyond Africa, with two deaths reported in the United States.

So far, Congo’s health authorities have acted swiftly, identifying the strain, alerting global health agencies, and mobilizing emergency teams within days. But experts caution that without adequate funding and international support, the current outbreak could spiral out of control.