WHO, Africa CDC Defend Ebola Response as 2 Bodies Trade Blame Over Delays
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 20
WHO, Africa CDC Defend Ebola Response as 2 Bodies Trade Blame Over Delays
4 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 20
Global health officials on Wednesday moved to justify their handling of the East Africa Ebola outbreak as criticism intensified over who was slow to acknowledge and respond to the spread.
WHO suggested the Africa CDC acted too slowly in announcing the outbreak’s spread, while reports said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused WHO of being late with its own response.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, said the agency supports countries rather than replaces them, a defense that also shifted pressure back onto African health authorities.
For many African officials, the dispute revived long-running complaints of double standards: local responders bear the risks and often contain outbreaks successfully, yet still face outside criticism and limited recognition.
As health leaders debate blame, how is the vaccine-less Ebola strain being fought on the front lines?
Will the push for African 'health sovereignty' finally break the cycle of dependency on Western-led crisis response?
DRC’s 17th Ebola Outbreak (2026): Bundibugyo Strain Exposes Global Health Gaps and Urgent Need for Reform
Overview
As of May 20, 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing its 17th Ebola outbreak, just months after the previous one ended in December 2025. This new crisis is centered in Central Africa and has been confirmed to be caused by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, a strain first identified in Uganda in 2007. The World Health Organization warns that the outbreak could last for several months. Although the Bundibugyo strain usually has a lower fatality rate compared to other Ebola types, it still poses a serious threat to the region.