WHO declares international emergency over Ebola outbreak

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The World Health Organisation has designated an Ebola outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern”. As the organisation’s highest level of global alert, this means the outbreak poses a risk to multiple countries and needs an international response, but falls short of a pandemic declaration. The last time a PHEIC was issued was for mpox in 2022. It was previously issued for Ebola in 2014 and 2019. There have been more than 80 deaths and 246 suspected cases in DR Congo and Uganda linked to the current strain, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no vaccines or specific therapeutics. The average death rate for Ebola is 50%. Although the overall risk to other continents is very low, it’s a different matter for neighbouring countries. The disease has mainly struck the gold-mining towns Mongwalu and Rwampara, which see significant levels of foot traffic.