WHO Warns of “Dangerous and Divisive” Times as Ebola and Hantavirus Outbreaks Emerge

The World Health Organization has flagged the latest Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks as signs of a world facing multiple overlapping crises.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the remarks on Monday at the opening of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva. He cited a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, declared a global health emergency over the weekend, and a rare hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.

“These are just the latest crises in our troubled world,” Tedros told health ministers and delegates. He pointed to conflicts, economic instability, climate change, and aid cuts as factors worsening global health risks.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose government allowed the MV Hondius to dock in the Canary Islands for evacuation, urged global solidarity. “No country can save itself alone. Protecting others is the best way to protect ourselves,” he said, warning against what he called a “pandemic of egoism.”

The assembly comes as WHO grapples with major funding cuts following the U.S. withdrawal and reduced contributions. The organization’s budget has dropped by about 21%, or nearly $1 billion, leading to job losses and scaled-back programs. Swiss Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider said WHO had been forced to reform “in the midst of the emergency.”

Delegates also declined to add Taiwan’s request to regain observer status to the agenda. Other contentious issues including Ukraine, the Palestinian territories, and Iran are expected to feature in discussions.

Talks on the 2025 pandemic treaty remain stalled, with countries likely to extend negotiations for another year. The status of U.S. and Argentina’s withdrawals from WHO is also unresolved, as both have not settled outstanding dues.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama called for a rethink of the global health system, saying, “Six years after Covid-19, the world health architecture is changing rapidly. We are witnessing the end of an era. We must have the courage to build the next one.”

What do you want to focus on next – the funding cuts, the pandemic treaty, or the outbreaks themselves?