The Democratic Republic of Congo and global health security: The indispensable role of the United States of America

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is emerging from two wars claiming 6 million lives and relatively recent colonial rule. The resultant widespread poverty and geopolitical instability, along with the country’s tropical climate, make it a focus of emerging infectious diseases that can and do spread beyond its borders [1]. While ideally no country should rely on foreign aid for infection prevention and control, the abrupt interruption of USA-derived aid to the DRC will have disastrous and far-reaching consequences—for inhabitants of DRC but also for all citizens of a globalized world.