The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will reportedly scale back on global disease prevention efforts in all but 10 countries, according to The Washington Post.
Funding is reportedly the reason for the cutback. In 2014, the CDC got a roughly $600 million emergency grant from the federal government during the Ebola outbreak. Those funds for epidemic prevention are expected to run out in September 2019.
Changing its course, the CDC will likely focus on 10 "priority countries," including Uganda, Guatemala and India. The move would limit or totally eliminate assistance in over 30 countries, where experts say disease outbreaks could be likely.
A group of global health organizations sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar at the end of January, asking for reconsideration of the planned cuts. They described the programs affected as "vital to the health and safety of all Americans." Other institutions have also pointed to the risks of pandemics, with the World Bank issuing its first "Pandemic Bond" to support health emergencies last year.
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
