NEWSWIRE

WHO Clashes with Marco Rubio on Ebola

• WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pushed back against criticism from Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Rubio reportedly said the organization was “a little late” in identifying the Ebola outbreak in Congo.
• Tedros defended the WHO by saying the agency does not replace governments but instead supports countries during outbreaks, while also suggesting Rubio may not fully understand how international health regulations work.
• Health officials are currently monitoring hundreds of suspected Ebola cases in Congo and Uganda, with the CDC reporting 134 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak.
• An American worker contracted Ebola while working in Congo and was later transported to Germany for specialized medical treatment.
• The latest outbreak marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in Congo within the last 50 years, with officials noting the previous outbreak in the country only ended last December.
• WHO says it continues leading global disease response efforts by deploying emergency medical teams, issuing guidance, and managing vaccine stockpiles during international health crises.
• In January, the Trump administration officially withdrew the United States from the WHO over what it described as the organization’s mishandling of COVID-19 and other global health emergencies, while Rubio’s comments added to growing criticism of the agency’s response speed and accountability.