Hundreds of Cases Emerge: WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in Congo & Uganda a Global Emergency
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
In its statement, the WHO stated that the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the two African countries is considered to be at risk of spreading across borders, requiring a coordinated international response.
“The Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but does not yet meet the criteria as a pandemic,” the WHO statement said.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported on Friday that at least 13 cases of Ebola have been confirmed through laboratory tests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including four deaths.
In addition, 246 other cases are still unconfirmed, while local health authorities are also investigating a possible link between the outbreak and 65 other deaths.
In Uganda, the government has declared a state of high alert following growing concerns about the spread of the virus.
The WHO acknowledges that to date, the exact number of people infected and the extent of the outbreak are still not known for certain.
At the end of January, the WHO sent a team of experts to Uganda to help with the handling of the latest Ebola outbreak. In February, the organization announced the start of the first Ebola vaccine trial in Uganda.
Although the Ugandan Ministry of Health had stated that the Ebola outbreak in the country was over at the end of April, the emergence of new cases has prompted international health authorities to increase vigilance.
The PHEIC status is an official declaration by the WHO regarding a health emergency situation that is considered to have a risk of global spread and requires rapid international coordination.
Based on the International Health Regulations 2005, all member states of the WHO have a legal obligation to respond quickly to the designation of PHEIC status.