Rubio Reaffirms U.S. Ban on Treating Ebola-Infected Americans as Congo Outbreak Kills 63
Updated
Updated · The Intercept · Jun 4
Rubio Reaffirms U.S. Ban on Treating Ebola-Infected Americans as Congo Outbreak Kills 63
3 articles · Updated · The Intercept · Jun 4
Summary
Marco Rubio said the U.S. "cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter" the country, reaffirming plans to keep infected Americans from receiving treatment at home.
63 reported deaths — 62 in Congo and one in Uganda — have intensified scrutiny of the U.S. response, with health experts urging exposed Americans to be brought back rather than sent to a planned treatment and quarantine site in Kenya.
WHO and African officials said the agency moved quickly once Congo and Uganda declared the outbreak on May 15, with WHO confirming Ebola on May 16 and declaring a global emergency on May 17.
116 suspected cases remain in Congo after a testing backlog was cleared from more than 1,000, underscoring how the rare Bundibugyo strain, conflict and weak health systems have complicated detection and response.
More broadly, experts say U.S. aid cuts, the withdrawal from WHO and limits on contact with the agency have weakened support in a country where Washington previously funded more than 70% of humanitarian work.
Why is the US building a controversial Ebola center in Kenya instead of bringing its own infected citizens home for treatment?
With no vaccine for this rare Ebola strain, can classic public health measures alone contain this outbreak in a warzone?
Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak 2026: U.S. Isolationism, Vaccine Race, and Global Health Fallout
Overview
The 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak began in Congo’s Ituri province and spread rapidly, prompting urgent calls for international support from the World Health Organization. The region’s instability, with armed groups and flight restrictions, made the response difficult. The U.S. adopted an isolationist policy, setting up a quarantine facility in Kenya for exposed Americans, which drew criticism for reducing global cooperation. This approach led to shortages of resources and hindered efforts to contain the virus. The outbreak highlighted the need for international collaboration, strong health systems, and community trust to effectively manage global health crises.