The World Health Organization has said that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo poses a high risk inside the country but does not represent a global pandemic emergency.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made this statement on Wednesday after meeting with the agency’s emergency committee. He confirmed that the outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern but said it does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency.
The outbreak is concentrated in eastern Ituri province of DR Congo. Health officials have recorded about 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths so far. Two suspected cases have also been reported in neighbouring Uganda.
WHO assesses the risk as high at the national and regional levels but low at the global level. The virus has likely been spreading for months before it was detected according to the health agency.
The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola. This is a rare strain for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines available to treat or prevent it.
WHO has warned that the outbreak could become much larger than what is currently being detected and reported. The agency said there is significant risk of local and regional transmission especially to countries sharing borders with DR Congo.
The health agency is advising neighbouring countries to strengthen screening at borders and main internal roads. WHO does not recommend travel or trade restrictions as this could worsen the situation and harm the fight against the outbreak.
DR Congo accounts for nearly all confirmed cases while Uganda has reported two suspected cases across the border. Neighbouring countries are at high risk for further spread according to WHO statements.
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