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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
The United Nations health agency cited the rising cases, cross-border spread and significant uncertainties about the scale of the epidemic.
The decision, announced by WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus on Sunday, followed reports of both confirmed and suspected infections linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
While the situation is serious, it does not currently meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency under the WHO’s international Health Regulations.
As of May 16, health authorities had recorded eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province in eastern DRC.
Cases have also been confirmed in the capital, Kinshasa, and across the border in Uganda, where two infected individuals travelled from DRC and were admitted to intensive care.
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WHO warned that the outbreak was likely larger than currently detected and pointed to clusters of unexplained deaths, a high positivity rate among tested samples and limited understanding of transmission patterns.
At least four deaths among healthcare workers have also raised concerns over infection prevention measures in health facilities.
The agency stressed that the outbreak poses a risk to neighbouring countries due to high population mobility, trade links and ongoing humanitarian challenges in affected regions.
Despite the risks, WHO does not recommend restrictions on international travel or trade.
It, however, urged countries to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and community engagement, while ensuring accurate public information.
Authorities in DRC and Uganda have been advised to activate emergency response mechanisms, enhance contact tracing and laboratory testing, improve infection prevention and scale up treatment capacity.
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