WHO maintains international emergency for DRC Ebola outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to maintain the international health emergency status for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The decision comes after the WHO's Emergency Committee reviewed three months of response efforts and concluded that the epidemic continues to pose a significant threat. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the decision, acknowledging the ongoing challenges in controlling the outbreak, which has already become the most severe in the DRC's history and the second-largest globally. "We call for the cooperation of all governments and partners to, working together, redouble our efforts and mobilize the necessary resources to protect communities in the coming months," Tedros stated.

The committee of experts reconvened on Tuesday, three months after the initial declaration of international emergency. They will meet again in three months to continue monitoring the situation. New recommendations for the DRC government and at-risk countries are expected in the coming days. Tedros admitted that the epidemic, which has infected nearly 5,000 people and caused over 2,300 deaths, is "far from being under control." He warned that the risk of its spread, both within the DRC and internationally, remains high.

While the current figures are still lower than the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak that caused 11,000 deaths and 28,000 infections, Tedros cautioned last week that at the current rate, this outbreak could surpass that grim milestone. The WHO's decision underscores the persistent danger posed by the Ebola epidemic in the DRC and the urgent need for sustained international support and coordinated action.

“

We call for the cooperation of all governments and partners to, working together, redouble our efforts and mobilize the necessary resources to protect communities in the coming months.