Unfortunately, the news out of WHO regarding the May 2018 DRC Ebola outbreak is likely to get worse now, before it gets. . . better. [UPDATED: Earlier story here; August 2016 backgrounder, on the longer longitudinal scars of these outbreaks, here.]
As if ripped from the script-pages of Scandal, House of Cards (or maybe even Game of Thrones), Mr. Trump on Tuesday cut over $250 million, in foreign aid earmarked for Ebola, calling it wasteful. [It was left-over funding -- from the 2016 outbreak, in which the vaccine worked quite well to quickly arrest the spread. So. . . Doctors Without Borders, WHO -- and the impoverished people in the northwest Congolese mountainous forests -- are being penalized. . . for progress in fighting Ebola, by 45. Yep. Sounds about right -- for him.]
We are on the bleeding, leading edge, of the viral knife's deadly arc, across the muscular chest of Africa, now -- and the sooner local ring vaccinations can begin, the sooner we will see the trailing edge -- of that knife (and begin to stitch it over, so a scar will form, as it heals). But right now, blood is all we see. From the CNN story then, just now:
. . . .One death of Ebola hemorrhagic fever and 11 new cases have been confirmed in the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Minister of Health Dr. Oly Ilunga said Thursday in Kinshasa. . . .
And so. . . I am soundly discouraged, this evening -- we seem to have the life-science all figured out, to fight this scourge.
But it seems our White House lacks. . . the will-power, to do so. $250 million is a pittance, compared even to his "military parade" spending -- and (in contrast to that awful parade idea), this continued Ebola eradication funding will literally save lives.
I get it, 45 -- they are black lives -- from what you derisively called "shithole countries". But even you must have. . . a small shred of soul, left. Even. . . you.
नमस्ते
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