Civic Register
| 5.11.18
New Ebola Outbreak Just As Gov't Cuts Funding
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The Story
- The World Health Organization announced a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo just hours after President Trump requested $252 million in cuts to Ebola response funding.
- The outbreak has expanded, with the WHO reporting 44 suspected cases on Thursday, among them 23 deaths.
- The WHO also announced on Thursday that the outbreak had reached a large urban area, increasing the risk and containment challenge considerably.
Why It Matters
- West Africa experienced the largest recorded outbreak of Ebola over a two-year period beginning in March 2014. More than 28,000 cases were reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with 11,310 deaths.
- While the WHO sees low risk of the current Ebola outbreak spreading globally, many experts believe that the world is not adequately prepared for a pandemic, wherein an infectious disease spreads worldwide. Studies show that more investment is needed to prevent serious losses.
- The Centers for Disease Control, meanwhile, is cutting its epidemic prevention efforts by 80 percent.
- Regarding the $252 million in cuts, Congress has 45 days from the time of Trump’s request to act, during which time the funds are frozen. If they vote it down, or simply ignore it, the funds will be spent as intended. If not, however, there will no funding for a response when the next health crisis hits.
What do you think?
Should the United States preserve its funding for epidemic prevention and response? Should the United States cut back on this funding, and deal with situations as they arise? Hit Take Action, then share your thoughts below.
--Sara E. Murphy
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