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Trump Administration Limits US Researchers' Participation in WHO Virus Response Talks, Impacting Global Cooperation

Trump Administration Limits US Researchers' Participation in WHO Virus Response Talks, Impacting Global Cooperation

The Trump administration has implemented a policy that restricts key US infectious disease researchers from directly communicating with the World Health Organization (WHO) during ongoing virus outbreaks. This directive, affecting the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), prevents staff from engaging in global discussions on virus outbreaks, such as the current Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While some NIAID officials can attend WHO meetings, they are limited to a 'listening capacity' and must channel any follow-up through the Department of Health and Human Services. This policy is part of a broader retreat from global health forums, following the US withdrawal from WHO in January. The restrictions have been criticized for hindering quick cooperation with global counterparts during public health emergencies.
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Ebola Outbreak in East Africa Threatens Safari Season Amid Rising Infections

Ebola Outbreak in East Africa Threatens Safari Season Amid Rising Infections

A new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda is causing significant concern for the East African tourism industry as it prepares for its peak travel season. The outbreak, originating in the Ituri province of northeast DRC, involves the Bundibugyo variant, which currently lacks an authorized vaccine or targeted therapy. The disease has rapidly spread across borders into Uganda, reaching Kampala, a central hub for tourists exploring East African wildlife. By mid-May, the World Health Organization reported nearly 600 infections and 139 probable fatalities. The outbreak has led to increased travel warnings, particularly from North America, where travelers are advised against visiting Uganda and the DRC. This has resulted in trip cancellations and growing unease among tourists planning to visit the region.
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The cruise ship at center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak has to undergo extra cleaning

The cruise ship at center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak has to undergo extra cleaning

A cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak is undergoing further cleaning before it returns to its home port
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WHO Warns Ebola Outbreak in DRC Outpacing Response Efforts

WHO Warns Ebola Outbreak in DRC Outpacing Response Efforts

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is advancing faster than response efforts can manage. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has no approved treatment or vaccine, complicating containment efforts. WHO's director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has urged neighboring countries to take immediate action as the epidemic poses a high risk to them. The outbreak is concentrated in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces, areas plagued by insecurity and conflict, which further hampers response efforts. The situation is exacerbated by attacks on health facilities and traditional burial practices that contribute to the spread of the disease.
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Bush Airport in Houston Designated as Entry Point for Africa Travelers Amid Ebola Outbreak

Bush Airport in Houston Designated as Entry Point for Africa Travelers Amid Ebola Outbreak

Houston's Bush Airport has been designated as one of three U.S. airports authorized to screen passengers entering from certain African countries due to an Ebola outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will implement enhanced public health screenings at Bush Airport, Dulles International Airport in Virginia, and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta. This measure applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens, who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past three weeks. The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
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Bush Airport in Houston Authorized for Ebola Screening Amid Outbreak

Bush Airport in Houston Authorized for Ebola Screening Amid Outbreak

Houston's Bush Airport has been designated as one of three U.S. airports authorized to screen passengers arriving from certain African countries due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The other two airports are Dulles International Airport in Virginia and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta. This measure applies to passengers who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past three weeks. Enhanced public health screenings will be conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
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A second Ebola treatment center is set ablaze in eastern Congo, with 18 suspected cases leaving

A second Ebola treatment center is set ablaze in eastern Congo, with 18 suspected cases leaving

Residents in eastern Congo have attacked and burned part of a health center treating Ebola patients
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Ebola Outbreak in DRC Prompts U.S. Travel Restrictions and International Response

Ebola Outbreak in DRC Prompts U.S. Travel Restrictions and International Response

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is spreading rapidly, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise its risk assessment to 'very high.' The outbreak has resulted in nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths. In response, the U.S. has implemented travel restrictions for individuals without American passports who have been in the DRC, South Sudan, or Uganda in the past three weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is coordinating with airlines and international partners to manage travelers potentially exposed to the virus. An American doctor working in the DRC has tested positive for Ebola and is receiving treatment in Germany.
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WHO Raises Ebola Outbreak Risk to 'Very High' as Cases Surge in Congo and Uganda

WHO Raises Ebola Outbreak Risk to 'Very High' as Cases Surge in Congo and Uganda

The World Health Organization (WHO) has escalated the risk level of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 'very high' due to a rapid increase in cases. The outbreak, which began in May 2026, has resulted in nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths, making it one of the largest on record. In Uganda, five cases have been confirmed, including a health worker and a Congolese woman who traveled through the country. The U.S. has pledged $23 million to aid the crisis response in both countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel ban for non-U.S. passport holders from affected regions and is coordinating with international partners to manage potential exposures.
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Ebola Patients Flee After Treatment Tent Set on Fire in DRC, Raising Community Transmission Risks

Ebola Patients Flee After Treatment Tent Set on Fire in DRC, Raising Community Transmission Risks

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a treatment tent for Ebola patients was set on fire by residents in Mongbwalu, leading to the escape of 18 suspected Ebola cases. The incident occurred after local authorities refused to release the body of an Ebola victim, causing unrest. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provided the tent, which was empty at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the outbreak's risk level within the DRC as 'very high.' The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain of Ebola with no approved vaccines or targeted treatments. The escape of these individuals significantly increases the risk of community transmission as health officials work to contain the rising infection and mortality rates.
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Experimental treatments could help US Ebola patient

Experimental treatments could help US Ebola patient

By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO, May 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. missionary who tested positive for Ebola and is undergoing treatment in a German hospital has been given drugs aimed at reducing disease symptoms after exposure to the virus and other therapies, U.S. health officials said on Friday.
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Health Experts Warn Against Daily Soda Consumption Due to Heart and Brain Risks

Health Experts Warn Against Daily Soda Consumption Due to Heart and Brain Risks

Health Experts Warn Against Daily Soda Consumption Due to Heart and Brain Risks