WHO Assesses Risk of Ebola Outbreak in Congo as High Regionally, Low Globally
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the risk of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as high at national and regional levels, but low globally. WHO experts are investigating the outbreak’s origins, estimating it began in the eastern DRC a few months ago.
WHO’s emergency committee has determined that the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency. WHO’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed 51 cases in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, noting the actual scale in DRC is larger. Uganda reported two confirmed cases in Kampala, including one death. An American in DRC was infected and transported to Germany for treatment. Almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths suggest the outbreak circulated before detection.
On Sunday, the situation was declared a public health emergency of international concern, prompting global emergency responses. The criteria for a pandemic emergency were not met, according to Lucille Blumberg, chair of the WHO emergency committee. Anais Legand, WHO technical officer, prioritized breaking the transmission chain through contact tracing and isolation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized WHO for delayed outbreak identification. Meanwhile, President Trump initiated U.S. withdrawal from the WHO last year, affecting international health efforts. Tedros responded to Rubio’s remarks, clarifying WHO’s support role in outbreak responses.
In: Ebola Democratic Republic of Congo Africa Uganda Pandemic World Health Organization