There is no cure and no vaccine for the rare Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, which has caused two outbreaks in recent decades. Health leaders and scientists are now racing to understand where the virus is spreading and attempting to stop it – but the US is notably absent in these efforts.
In the past year, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been dismantled, thousands of staff at US health agencies were laid off, communications stalled and key scientific research canceled.
There are 482 suspected cases and about 116 deaths reported since April in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with two cases and one death in Uganda and potential spread to neighboring South Sudan. The outbreak “might have been going on for a few months”, said Kristian Andersen, a professor of immunology and microbiology at Scripps Research.
If the world ends it will be with a bang, but the bang will certainly only be the final confirmation of something that had started without anyone seeming to notice.
As shit as the US is being about this … why is it the US’s sole responsibility to stop international disease outbreaks? What’s the rest of the world doing about this?
I’m pretty sure USAID was responsible for Ebola outbreaks in this part of the world but Doge cuts took all their aid away. I’d have to look it up though. So yes, it kinda was the responsibility of the US.
Edit: Looked it up and a lot of sites are “reporting” the USAID cuts is probably the biggest factor in why there were delays in detecting this Ebola outbreak.
How long until the tankies call it “US imperialism” and say that the cuts to USAID were actually “good”?
why is it the US’s sole responsibility to stop international disease outbreaks
They’re not, and that shouldn’t be the conclusion people draw from this. What they’re saying is that there are resources (human and supplies) already in position which could prevent a bigger problem if they are utilized, and will likely go to waste. Similar to all those vaccines that were already paid for and then spoiled over time. It’s also talking about why this outbreak is going to be more painful than future ones (once alternative systems have been set up).
As for why we are in this situation in the first place:
- the US has used its influence to set up these extensive programs globally for decades because they benefitted from the influence and power it gave them
- Other countries had a hard time justifying spending money on identical programs operating on the same issues, when they could be using the money to support the existing programs. Or alternatively, listening to where the US says to direct the money / investment. Experts in a certain field will choose to go and work in the larger organization since they can still serve their community through that one.
It’s not enough for the bureaucrats or elected officials to want something, the people need to understand the risk as well. Now that the world sees what can happen, they will be a lot more careful entering agreements with the US or shutting down domestic capabilities in the future.
Public health can’t be replaced quickly, since it’s not just about spending money now. It takes time to set up new logistics, supply chains, education and training programs, diplomatic relationships, emergency supplies etc.
All that being said
What’s the rest of the world doing about this?
Here is the recent news:
It’s not. However, by having lots of money (apparently) and therefore attracting many of the world’s best, it is the US’s responsibility to assist the world just as every other country does. Not only for protecting their own nation against the spread of worldwide dangers, but minimising the impact before it starts global strain.
But honestly, like everything, the US is no big loss. It’s always the other nations that solve these things anyway and all the best doctors are leaving to other nations—those shutdown in the programs obviously would’ve earlier. If things stay business as usual, the recipe will get published, and the US pharmaceuticals industry will pump out the final products for everyone because that’s the part of the process where the money is.
It’s weird how every time Shitler gets elected, there’s some kind of plague outbreak.
