WHO says Ebola risks high for region, but not a "pandemic emergency"
The World Health Organization has assessed the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as high risk at national and regional levels but low globally. While there are confirmed cases and suspected deaths, the situation does not currently meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency. The WHO is focusing on cutting the transmission chain through contact tracing and care for affected individuals.
- ▪The WHO confirmed 51 cases of Ebola in the DRC, with additional cases reported in Uganda.
- ▪There are nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths related to the outbreak.
- ▪The WHO emergency committee stated that the situation does not qualify as a pandemic emergency.
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World WHO says Ebola not a "pandemic emergency," and U.S. criticism over response may be down to "misunderstanding" May 20, 2026 / 7:24 AM EDT / CBS/AFP Add CBS News on Google Geneva — The World Health Organization on Wednesday said the risk of the Democratic Republic of Congo's deadly Ebola outbreak was currently high at the national and regional levels but low worldwide. WHO experts said that while investigations into its origins were ongoing, given the scale of the situation in the eastern DRC, the outbreak probably began a couple of months ago. But the UN health agency's emergency committee said it did not currently meet the pandemic emergency threshold.
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