WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern. While not meeting global pandemic criteria, the outbreak in Ituri province has resulted in 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths. The WHO warns of a high risk of local and regional spread, noting that the current variant, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, lacks approved medicine or vaccines.