{"id":337934,"date":"2026-05-20T20:43:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T15:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=337934"},"modified":"2026-05-20T20:43:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T15:13:52","slug":"ebola-epidemic-scale-much-larger-than-known-cases-who-head-says-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/ebola-epidemic-scale-much-larger-than-known-cases-who-head-says-national\/","title":{"rendered":"Ebola epidemic scale \u2018much larger\u2019 than known cases, WHO head says – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The pinnacle of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday that the chance of worldwide spread of the Ebola outbreak within the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is high on the national and regional levels but low at the worldwide level.<\/p>\n

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said 51 cases have been confirmed in Congo\u2019s northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, \u201calthough we all know the dimensions of the epidemic is way larger.\u201d<\/p>\n

During a media briefing on Wednesday<\/a>, Ghebreyesus said Uganda has told the UN health agency of two confirmed cases within the country\u2019s capital, Kampala.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeyond the confirmed cases, there are almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths,\u201d he said. \u201cWe expect those numbers to maintain increasing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ghebreyesus said he declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) over the epidemic of Ebola disease within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda on Sunday.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat is the primary time a Director-General has declared a PHEIC before convening an Emergency Committee. I took this step in accordance with Article 12 of the International Health Regulations (IHR), after consulting the Ministers of Health of DRC and Uganda, and in view of the necessity for urgent motion,\u201d he said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

He said he determined that the situation was \u201cnot a pandemic emergency, which is the brand new and highest classification under the amended International Health Regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n

After declaring the general public health emergency of international concern, Ghebreyesus convened an emergency committee under the IHR, which met on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

The committee agreed that the situation is a public health emergency of international concern, \u201cbut will not be a pandemic emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWHO assesses the chance of the epidemic as high on the national and regional levels, and low at the worldwide level,\u201d Ghebreyesus added.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tWhat’s concerning officials essentially the most about Ebola?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

On Wednesday, the WHO director-general said there are several aspects that \u201cwarrant serious concern concerning the potential for further spread and further deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cFirst, beyond the confirmed Ebola cases, there are almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths. We expect those numbers to maintain increasing, given the period of time the virus was circulating before the outbreak was detected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The epidemic has also expanded, with cases reported in several urban areas, based on Ghebreyesus.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeaths have been reported amongst medical examiners, indicating healthcare-associated transmission,\u201d he said, adding that there’s \u201csignificant population movement in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe province of Ituri is extremely insecure. Conflict has intensified since late 2025, and fighting has escalated significantly over the past two months, with over 100,000 people newly displaced,\u201d Ghebreyesus continued. \u201cThe world can also be a mining zone, with high levels of population movement that increase the chance of further spread.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ghebreyesus said the epidemic is attributable to Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus for which there aren’t any approved vaccines or therapeutics.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIn light of all these risks, I made a decision it was urgent to act immediately to stop more deaths and mobilize an efficient and international response,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The WHO thanked the federal government of the DRC, the National Institute for Biomedical Research, the National Institute of Public Health and native health authorities within the affected areas for his or her leadership and co-operation.<\/p>\n

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Ghebreyesus also thanked the federal government of Uganda for postponing the annual Martyrs\u2019 Day celebrations, which might attract as much as two million people, due to the risk posed by the epidemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWHO has a team on the bottom supporting national authorities to reply. We have now deployed people, supplies, equipment and funds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In an effort to proceed to support the response, Ghebreyesus said he approved an extra US$3.4 million from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies, bringing the entire to $3.9 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithin the absence of vaccines and therapeutics, there are numerous other measures countries can take to stop the spread of the virus and save lives, which the Emergency Committee has outlined in its temporary recommendations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t‘A whole lot of uncertainty’ about vaccine potential\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

While essentially the most common type of Ebola, the Zaire strain, does have an approved vaccine, Bundibugyo currently doesn’t have approved vaccines or therapeutics.<\/p>\n

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Vasee Moorthy, the WHO\u2019s senior science and strategy advisor, said Wednesday that one vaccine candidate was six to nine months away from being available for clinical trials.<\/p>\n

One other is being developed by the University of Oxford and India\u2019s Serum Institute and was having doses \u201cmanufactured as we speak,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

But Moorthy said there was no data from animal testing to support the vaccine.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is feasible that doses might be available for clinical trial in two to a few months but there’s plenty of uncertainty about whether that could be a promising candidate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is going to rely on the animal data on whether that\u2019s considered a promising candidate research vaccine for Bundibugyo, in order that\u2019s what I’d say concerning the pipeline now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The WHO\u2019s Dr. Ana\u00efs Legand said the priority at once is to assist arrange optimized treatment centres to make sure that every suspected case may be detected early and cared for while they’re preparing for the upcoming trial.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tTwo Americans flown to Europe for treatment\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

A U.S. national who tested positive for the virus in Congo arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for treatment in a special isolation ward.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAn American national who was working in DRC has also been confirmed positive, and been transferred to Germany,\u201d Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

A \u201ccomprehensive examination\u201d was going down to find out how you can proceed with treatment, German Health Ministry spokesperson Martin Els\u00e4sser told The Associated Press. He said he wouldn\u2019t comment on the patient\u2019s condition. The German authorities and the U.S. CDC haven’t identified the patient.<\/p>\n

Individually, Christian aid organization Serge said one in every of its doctors \u2014 which it identified as American medical missionary Dr. Peter Stafford \u2014 had been evacuated from Congo and is \u201creceiving specialized medical treatment\u201d after he developed Ebola symptoms.<\/p>\n

Serge announced Wednesday<\/a> that each one the organization\u2019s employees with \u201cpotential exposure have been safely evacuated from the Democratic Republic of Congo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe received confirmation that Dr. Peter Stafford safely arrived at Charite University Hospital in Germany, where he’ll receive the very best level of clinical care and treatment,\u201d said Dr. Scott Myhre, Serge area director for East and Central Africa.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe complex, coordinated efforts of many government agencies and international health authorities resulted in Peter Stafford\u2019s secure transport and the protection of those involved in his transfer. Serge leadership extends their deepest gratitude to all involved in Peter\u2019s care and is praying for all involved within the fight to finish this ebolavirus outbreak for the great of the people of the DRC.\u201d<\/p>\n

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