WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a global health emergency

Moscow (ANTARA) - 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), according to a statement by the organization.

On Friday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported that there were 13 cases of Ebola that had been confirmed through laboratory tests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including four deaths.

In addition, 246 unconfirmed cases have been identified, while local authorities are also investigating possible fatalities related to the outbreak involving another 65 people.

The Ugandan government also declared a state of high alert on Friday due to the outbreak.

“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 said in a statement.

The WHO stated that the exact number of people infected and the locations of the spread are still unknown.

At the end of January, the WHO sent experts to Uganda to help the local government deal with the latest Ebola outbreak.

In February, the organization announced the start of the first Ebola vaccine trial in Uganda.

Meanwhile, at the end of April, the Ugandan Ministry of Health stated that the Ebola outbreak in the country had ended.

A PHEIC is a formal declaration by the WHO regarding a public health emergency situation that is deemed to be at risk of spreading to other countries and potentially requires a coordinated international response.

Under the International Health Regulations 2005, each country has a legal obligation to respond quickly to a PHEIC status.