Lauterbach Demands More Aid for Africa Due to Ebola Spread in Congo
Former German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach warns that cutting development aid to Africa could trigger health crises and mass migration to Europe, urging increased funding despite low immediate Ebola threat.
The Social Democrat politician made his remarks to the Rheinische Post on Wednesday, as Junge Freiheit reports, arguing that Germany should expand rather than reduce its development ministry budget in the same manner it has increased defense spending.
Lauterbach, 63, framed the argument in terms of German self-interest as much as humanitarian concern. He pointed to the current Ebola outbreak as evidence that cutting international health assistance poses direct risks to Western nations.
The former minister blamed recent American cuts to global health and development aid in early 2025 for contributing to the collapse of healthcare systems in African countries such as Congo. He warned that such deterioration allows extremely dangerous viruses like Ebola to spread more rapidly, potentially developing into pandemics with economic consequences for Germany and other Western nations.
Lauterbach also raised the specter of mass migration, stating that eroding health systems threaten to trigger refugee waves from African countries toward Europe. He specifically criticized right-wing parties for advocating development aid cuts, calling such positions completely wrong and warning that such reductions could prove bitterly costly for Germany.
Minimal Direct Threat Despite Warning
Despite his call for increased funding, Lauterbach assessed the immediate danger from the current Ebola outbreak as low. He stated that he sees no threat to other African countries, and certainly none to Europe or Germany. Travelers on the African continent need not have particular fear of Ebola infection, he added.
Outbreak Claims Over 200 Lives
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported on Tuesday that Congo has recorded 906 suspected cases and 105 confirmed Ebola infections, with 233 deaths attributed to the outbreak. In neighboring Uganda, authorities have confirmed seven infections and one death.
The World Health Organization declared an international health emergency approximately ten days ago, citing the lack of a vaccine for the current virus variant and assessing the spread risk within the African region as high. According to the Africa CDC, the first outbreaks likely occurred in the third week of April but were not reported until early May.
Infected American Doctor Treated in Germany
An American citizen infected with Ebola in Congo was transported to Germany for treatment last Tuesday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the individual, who had been working in Congo, tested positive for the virus.
Six additional contact persons considered at risk of infection are also receiving treatment in Germany. The CDC has not disclosed their nationalities or the specific treatment location within the country, justifying the choice of Germany based on shorter flight distance from Congo and German medical experience with the infectious disease.
American media reports indicate the infected U.S. citizen is a physician. A Christian missionary organization stated that the man contracted the virus while treating infected patients at a Congolese hospital. German Health Minister Nina Warken of the Christian Democrats planned to visit the doctor on Wednesday.
With information from Junge Freiheit
