Trump’s USAid Cuts Heighten Mpox Global Emergency Risk, Experts Warn 

The Trump administration’s dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAid) has raised concerns about the potential for mpox (formerly monkeypox) to escalate into a global health emergency, The Guardian reported citing experts and aid workers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency in August 2024 as cases surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and spread to neighboring African countries. USAid had been leading efforts to contain the virus through vaccination, testing, and surveillance, contributing $55 million in emergency assistance last year. However, funds are now frozen, and USAid workers were evacuated from the DRC in January, leaving response efforts in disarray.

Aid workers warn that cutting resources increases the risk of mpox spreading globally, including to the US. One worker described the situation as “catastrophic,” emphasizing the loss of sustainable systems to combat future outbreaks. A federal judge recently ruled to temporarily halt the aid freeze, but confusion persists over restarting programs. Experts stress that withdrawing from global health efforts undermines both international and US safety.