Trump Administration Limits Ebola Travel From 3 Countries as 2 Hantavirus Quarantines Face Challenges
Updated
Updated · Daily Kos · May 22
Trump Administration Limits Ebola Travel From 3 Countries as 2 Hantavirus Quarantines Face Challenges
3 articles · Updated · Daily Kos · May 22
A CDC memo issued Monday says the U.S. is adding screening and largely suspending travel from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan while calling Ebola risk to Americans low.
Jay Bhattacharya, the NIH director, signed the memo because the CDC still lacks a Senate-confirmed leader, underscoring gaps in the administration's outbreak response.
The report says preparedness is also constrained by missing tools: there is no vaccine or treatment for this Ebola strain, and virus-specific diagnostic cartridges are in short supply.
At least 2 people in the U.S. are already planning to challenge hantavirus quarantine orders, exposing how anti-science messaging has made enforcement harder.
Those strains come as the administration has weakened public-health capacity and international coordination, including by withdrawing from the WHO and dismantling USAID.
With its health agencies weakened, how can the U.S. effectively lead the global fight against two deadly new outbreaks?
As a new U.S. global health strategy falters, what is the backup plan to stop Ebola from spreading further?