Elon Musk claims that the efforts of Ebola’s restriction have been restored. USAID officials speak differently.

A few hours after Elon Musk reassured the members of the office on Wednesday, that the efforts to stop the ebol’s outbreak in Uganda were “accidentally canceled very briefly”, Trump’s administration ended at least four out of five agreements for work related to the ebola in this country.

Four canceled contracts were a petite fraction of 10,000 contracts and subsidies at the United States International Development Agency and the Department of State, which the Trump administration ended on Wednesday.

But they were vital: from January Uganda has experienced a stern ebol explosion, from which the country is just appearing. According to the former USAID official, they financed Ebola’s research at airports and protective equipment for healthcare professionals and helped prevent the transmission by people who survived the disease.

Mr. Musk He told the members of the office that the administration “immediately restored Ebola’s prevention and there was no break.” But his statement was faulty, according to two former USAID officials with knowledge of the situation in Uganda. (Officials asked for an anonymous for fear of retaliation).

Theoretically, dismissals allowed to continue work containing pathogens such as Ebola, Marburg and MPOX, as well as readiness for the influenza birds. But in fact very little money was provided.

Few organizations providing these services were to continue financial reserves, and even less trusted that they would be returned.

Their fears could be justified. On Wednesday evening, the main judge of the Supreme Court, John G. Roberts Jr., ruled that USAID and the Department of State did not have to pay immediately for more than $ 1.5 billion for work that had already been completed.

Works ongoing without these payments were interrupted, as opposed to the claim of Mr. Musk.

According to a former USAID official with knowledge about the situation at the airport in Entebbe, Uganda, Ebola’s review took place for over two weeks. The organization that does this decided a few days ago to resume work with its own funds.

The group’s agreement was terminated on Wednesday evening.

The White House refused to explain to Mr. Musk’s comments and addressed to the man himself. Mr. Musk did not answer immediately at the request for comment.

There were other gaps. The first patient with Ebola in the current explosion went to six objects before his death and was diagnosed, which prompted the Uganda government to apply for protective equipment for exposed healthcare professionals.

USAID will include such equipment in a warehouse in Nairobi. But the facility was managed by the World Health Organization, and USAID employees could not communicate with WHO, not to mention paying him for releasing the equipment.

After more than a week waiting for permission to contact WHO, officials were suddenly ordered to come up with another solution. Ultimately, they paid about 100,000 USD for the purchase of protective equipment elsewhere.

“So much for profitability,” said a former clerk knowing about events. The contract with an alternative supplier has also ended.

Even the release process was full of confusion. Trump’s administration asked for details how much life every intervention will save, and USAID staff fought for linking petite resources, such as manual disinfection or communication with risk communication with a specific number of saved life.

Purchased staff in USAID left few people in their place. The agency had over 50 people devoted to reactions to the explosion, as a result of congress pressure on increasing the pandemic.

This number was initially cut by half, including some of the basic Ebola team, and then on Sunday to six. The fired was included in the leading expert of the organization in the field of laboratory diagnostics and the Ebola reaction manager.

“I have no idea how six people have four answers to the explosion,” said one of the officials who was released. “This is complicated at the best moments when you are fully staffed.”