The World Health Organization has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Uganda a global health emergency, according to a May 17 report. The declaration followed reports from the U.N. health agency that the outbreak could be more extensive than currently detected.
The designation, formally known as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), is the highest alert level the WHO can issue. It is reserved for extraordinary events that are determined to pose a public health risk to other nations through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated global response.
In conjunction with the announcement, the WHO advised countries to activate their national disaster mechanisms to prepare for potential cases. The organization also recommended the implementation of cross-border and internal health screening to monitor and contain the virus’s spread. These measures are intended to increase surveillance and speed up the identification of new infections.
The response to the outbreak involves multiple international health and aid organizations working alongside national authorities. According to information from an Al Jazeera panel discussion on the situation, representatives from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) are participating in efforts to manage the epidemic.
Current containment strategies in the affected regions focus on contact tracing, vaccination of at-risk populations where applicable, and providing care for infected individuals in specialized treatment centers. Health officials are coordinating efforts to deploy resources and personnel to the areas with the most significant need.
This is not the first time the DRC has faced a major Ebola outbreak. The region has previous experience with the virus, which informs the current public health response. The WHO’s declaration is designed to mobilize greater international financial and technical support for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as they work to control the spread of the disease.
