WHO warns Ebola, hantavirus outbreaks signal dangerous times

The World Health Organization faces mounting challenges as recent outbreaks of Ebola and hantavirus underscore broader global health risks, according to its director-general. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus opened the WHO’s annual assembly in Geneva by calling the crises “the latest in a series of dangerous and divisive times.” Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, declared an international emergency last week, and the hantavirus case on the MV Hondius cruise ship highlight systemic vulnerabilities in global health preparedness.

“From conflicts to economic crises to climate change and aid cuts, we live in difficult, dangerous, and divisive times,” Tedros said. His remarks come as the organization grapples with a 21% budget reduction—nearly $1 billion in lost funding—since 2023, prompting program cuts and job losses. Swiss Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider noted the agency’s “profound reform” amid the financial strain, though critics argue the cuts hinder its ability to respond to crises.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, praised for allowing the MV Hondius to dock in the Canary Islands for passenger evacuations, emphasized the need for global cooperation. “No country can save itself,” he said, criticizing what he called a “pandemic of egoism.” His comments echoed a broader theme at the assembly: the growing tension between national interests and collective action.

The organization’s agenda is complicated further by geopolitical disputes. Taiwan’s bid to regain observer status—revoked by China in 2016—was once again blocked by member states. Meanwhile, debates over Ukraine, the Palestinian territories, and Iran risk fracturing consensus. These issues overshadow stalled progress on the organization’s 2025 pandemic treaty, which aims to ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatments. Negotiations on sharing pathogens and benefits from pandemic research remain unresolved, with nations agreeing to delay finalizing the treaty until next year.

U.S. and Argentine withdrawals from the organization also cast uncertainty over its future. President Donald Trump’s 2025 notice of withdrawal, followed by Argentina’s, has left the organization’s constitution in limbo. While the U.S. has not yet paid its $260 million in outstanding dues, diplomats suggest maintaining a “gray zone” around Washington’s status to avoid further destabilizing the agency.

Amid these challenges, the organization’s role as a neutral, trusted institution remains critical. Suerie Moon of the Geneva Graduate Institute cited the hantavirus crisis as proof of the need for a “reliably-funded” organization. Yet, with funding gaps and political divisions persisting, the agency’s capacity to act is increasingly tested.

The assembly also turned to debates over reforming the “global health architecture,” a patchwork of overlapping agencies that often fail to coordinate effectively. Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama called for a “courageous” rebuild of the system six years after the pandemic. “We are witnessing the end of an era,” he said, though concrete steps remain unclear.

For now, the organization’s focus remains on navigating immediate threats. The Ebola outbreak in the DRC, where health systems are already strained, and the hantavirus case on a cruise ship—where rapid containment is crucial—demand urgent attention. With resources dwindling and geopolitical tensions rising, the agency’s ability to lead a unified response to future crises remains uncertain.