Some U.S. health officials fear that the closure of the U.S. International Development Mission Agency could have dire consequences. Because the deadlock in foreign aid forced a delay in what they said was an early “chaotic” US response to swelling in Uganda. Ebola outbreak.
The outbreak marks the eighth from the Ebola virus in Uganda. The first confirmed case in the outbreak was a nurse at a hospital in Kampala, the country’s capital, who signed Ebola on January 20 or January 21 and died on January 29.
Currently there are six confirmed cases and six suspected cases. In two suspicious cases, health officials have not identified epidemiological links to other cases, according to an internal slide shared with CBS News.
More than 12 Americans in Uganda are also among those known to have been previously known to have been exposed to the Sudan virus, the type of Ebola that infected the first case. These people have not shown symptoms so far, two people familiar with the situation told CBS News.
There are no vaccines or treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the Sudan virus. According to the World Health Organization, the Ebola strain was fatal in at least 41% of cases reported during past outbreaks.
The new outbreak coincides with the Trump administration’s suspension of foreign aid. This has created uncertainty among healthy nonprofits. This is currently facing unpaid debt and a massive freeze on much of the US fund.
“What we’re talking about is disaster relief workers. We’re talking about the health workers and people who are doing good things around the world and protecting America.” Dr. Atul Gowandethe former USAID Global Health Director told CBS News on Monday.
The suspension has resulted in tracking and screening contact information for international travelers departing in Uganda, and US officials have said many US-funded experts around the area will be fired or suspended from work. Because he was ordered to do so.
I plan to put the USAID on Almost all staff are on vacation Overseas missions are closed this Friday.
“It puts the world at risk,” one USAID official said in a message. “I’m not a vigilant, but this is a very bad thing,” the official added.
In 2022, the outbreak of the Sudan virus in Uganda prompted a massive response in the United States. US Lamp up Here we sent staff and resources to support our virus screening and preparation and efforts to contain spreads in Uganda.
According to the WHO, Uganda’s health care system has already grown thinly in recent months, fighting another outbreak of different diseases, the outbreak of MPOX.
A State Department and USAID spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
President Trump also ordered the US withdrawal from the WHO, which was requested by national government staff immediately. I’m eager to collaborate with UN agencies that support coordination of domestic responses.
US health officials said the CDC usually works closely with WHO and national health authorities, often meeting every day to coordinate responses to such outbreaks.
A CDC spokesman said in a statement. The CDC said such conversations are also permitted in regards to the response to the rise of other concerns in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Amid a government-wide travel and spending suspension, attempts by US agencies to deploy staff to help respond to the outbreak are also delayed.
More than 100 staff currently work in the CDC offices in Uganda, US officials say. The agency staff is now also incorporated into the response team in Uganda. Another health official said an additional team of CDC experts is expected to roll out to the country this weekend.
Authorities secured exemptions from the State Department on Saturday and released some funds for Ebola response, but many recipients of US funds are reluctant to accept the money due to Washington’s turmoil That’s what the two are familiar with the situation said.
Nonprofits, like a drastic order to cleanse all mentions of gender and diversity at any level and activity, regardless of your location or citizenship, as a condition for receiving funds; They have also tackled the increased demand imposed by the Trump administration. Employees or contractors are supported in US dollars.
In Uganda, the group is still waiting for clarification from its national contacts at USAID as to how the exemption applies to their work, people said.
Following Trump’s executive order, the country’s Ministry of Health has called for Ugandan officials to “restore normalcy,” and in a letter obtained by CBS News, everything supported by the CDC and USAID urged staff members to “continue to work as volunteers with a patriotism spirit.”
“Radio Silence” from CDC
The spread of the outbreak in Uganda leaves some of the state and local health officials plagued by “radio silence” from the CDC, officials told CBS News.
In past outbreaks, CDC officials have quickly begun to step up their preparations for the possibility of cases spreading to the US
The external meetings and information sharing, which health officials usually rely on to rely on communication with CDC officials, have been cancelled amid “suspension” across the Ministry of Health and Human Services (HHS).
A spokesman for HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The suspension of communications was scheduled to end first last weekend, but many federal health officials face delays or denials in obtaining approval to release information or participate in external meetings. I say there.
“HHS continues to raise staff levels as we look forward to the new secretary leading the agency. HHS has approved and will continue to do so. ” in a previous statement.
As a halt, some states are working on informal partnerships to strengthen their preparations for the arrival of potential incidents, officials said.
The CDC was able to publish travel alerts about its trip to Uganda on Wednesday, but left a link and information from WHO updates on the outbreak.
Other donors are intervening
Not all health experts are on guard about the current situation.
Two US infectious disease doctors who have emerged domestically expressed confidence that other groups and countries can fill the void left with US support, but they have undetected spread and responses. He admitted he was worried about the possibility of delays.
In past Ebola outbreaks, the US has been rushing to set up isolated facilities and supporting outbreak responses from numerous government organizations with domestic workers, and many others to contain the outbreak in the early days. We have often funded important steps. .
US Funded Institutes are usually at the forefront of past responses to outbreaks through institutions such as the Uganda Virus Institute.
Some groups, like Mé decins, have tried to cover the shortage, such as Frontières and Who. The WHO recently promoted the launch of outbreak-based vaccination trials with the help of Canada and Europe.
Russia may also help fill the vacuum left by the US departure. State media recently said the country has launched a mobile lab in the Uganda capital to help with the outbreak.
