Ebola epidemic in Congo becomes third-largest in history as US funding cuts leave health workers and protective equipment in short supply

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has escalated to become the third-largest epidemic in recorded history, according to health officials. The crisis has been exacerbated by funding cuts implemented by the Trump administration, which have left the response effort critically short of medical personnel and protective equipment needed to contain the deadly virus. The situation has created additional diplomatic tensions, as the United States had planned to transport infected American citizens to Kenya for treatment. However, this proposal triggered massive protests across Kenya, where citizens strongly opposed hosting potentially contagious patients on their territory.