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GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has clarified that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda is a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but not a pandemic emergency, Xinhua reported.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Ebola risk remains “high at national and regional levels, and low at the global level,” stressing the situation does not meet criteria for a global pandemic emergency.
He noted that a WHO Emergency Committee met on Tuesday and endorsed his earlier assessment that the outbreak requires international concern and coordination. Tedros had already declared the PHEIC on Sunday, marking the first time he made such a declaration before convening the committee.
According to WHO, the outbreak has so far confirmed 51 cases in the northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu in the DRC, with officials saying the situation is more severe in the DRC than in Uganda.
The WHO emphasized that while the outbreak requires strong regional response measures, there is no indication of uncontrolled global spread at this stage.
Health authorities continue monitoring the situation and coordinating response efforts to contain transmission and strengthen preparedness in affected regions, the organization added.