An American doctor who survived Ebola in 2014 has warned that the current outbreak in Africa is far more severe than officials are disclosing. Dr Craig Spencer, speaking to ABC News, expressed certainty that the virus has spread beyond the reported figures.
Current Outbreak Statistics
The health ministry of the Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed over 500 suspected cases and more than 130 deaths. The virus, which causes fever, vomiting, and catastrophic bleeding, can kill within 24 hours. One American citizen has tested positive after exposure in DR Congo and has been transferred to Charité hospital in Berlin for treatment. Six additional high-risk contacts are expected to be relocated to Europe for strict quarantine.
Dr Spencer's Personal Experience
Dr Spencer contracted Ebola in 2014 while treating patients in Guinea with Médecins Sans Frontières. After returning to the US, he spent 19 days in Bellevue Hospital, New York. He later returned to Guinea as an epidemiologist. Reflecting on the current crisis, he said: "My biggest concern is that we learned too much too quickly for this to be anything but really bad." He added that he is thinking of the newly infected American doctor, knowing the fear and lack of treatment options firsthand.
Criticism of US Withdrawal from WHO
Dr Spencer criticised President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organisation, calling it a move that left America unprepared. The withdrawal, one of Trump's first acts upon returning to office, resulted in the WHO losing nearly a quarter of its workforce—about 2,000 jobs. Georgetown University professor Lawrence Gostin described the decision as "sowing the seeds of the next pandemic."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticised the WHO, stating it was "a little late" in identifying the outbreak. Despite sweeping aid cuts, the US has committed approximately £9.7 million (USD$13 million) to open 50 clinics in DR Congo. Dr Spencer, now a professor of public health at Brown University and an A&E doctor, said he has already put his family through enough but remains open to helping if needed.
