The WHO Said the DRC Ebola Outbreak Is Not an International Public Health Emergency. Here ’s What to Know

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that a worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) does not constitute an international public health emergency, but stressed in a statement that it remains “deeply concerned” about the situation. The emergency meeting, which was held at the United Nations’ headquarters in Geneva, was called about a month after the WHO upgraded Ebola’s risk level in the DRC from “high” to “very high,” according to a UN statement. At that time, global risk was deemed low and the WHO did not recommend limiting travel or trade in and out of the DRC. The outcome of Wednesday’s meeting could have changed that designation, but WHO officials decided that the situation is not currently a public health emergency of international concern. Nonetheless, officials urged “ongoing vigilance” from health workers in the DRC and neighboring countries, and recommended accelerated preparedness and surveillance efforts and potential vaccination of those at risk of contraction in surrounding areas. Here’s what to know about the Ebola outbreak in the DRC. How severe is the Ebola outbreak? The DRC’s current Ebola outbreak, its 10th in 40 years, was officially declared on Aug. 1, shortly after the end of another outbreak in the country that claimed 33 lives. As of Oct. 15, the WHO had recorded 181 confirmed cases of Ebola, as well as 35 suspected cases. Nearly 14...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized ebola healthytime onetime Source Type: news