(Who): The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a "public health emergency of international concern"

Geneva, August 18 (KUNA) -- World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Tuesday that the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains classified as a “public health emergency of international concern,” based on the recommendation of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR) regarding the Ebola virus (Bundibugyo).

In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Ghebreyesus called on all governments and partners to strengthen cooperation and work together as a single team to intensify efforts to combat the outbreak and bolster the resources needed to protect communities in the coming months. He clarified that the Committee is expected to issue updated recommendations in the coming days to both the DRC government and other countries at risk of the disease spreading.

Earlier on Tuesday, in his opening address at the second meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on the Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the DRC, Ghebreyesus warned of the rapid spread of the epidemic, emphasizing that the risk of transmission at both national and international levels remains high, particularly following the confirmation of a case involving a patient who traveled to France, as well as other cases in Uganda.

He noted that this outbreak has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, moving at a faster pace than any previous one, and pointed out that insecurity, displacement, and high population mobility are exacerbating the situation. He further warned that the epidemic remains out of control, with approximately 5,000 infections and more than 2,300 deaths recorded across six provinces and 55 health zones. He expressed concern over cases and deaths occurring outside approved treatment and surveillance systems, indicating that chains of transmission are no longer clear.

Ghebreyesus affirmed that the WHO, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and response partners, led by the DRC government, are working to strengthen community surveillance, expand treatment capacities, support safe and dignified burial operations, and develop vaccines and treatments. He also highlighted that two vaccines specifically designed against the Bundibugyo virus have entered human clinical trials for the first time, while another vaccine has shown cross-protection in animal studies and is being advanced to a Phase 3 trial.

Three months ago, the WHO declared the Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak in the DRC a public health emergency of international concern. (End) A.M.Kh./M.A.H.A.