WHO declares Ebola emergency

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, escalating the agency’s highest formal alarm for cross-border disease threats. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak, caused by Bundibugyo virus, required urgent international action even though the agency does not consider it a pandemic emergency. WHO said the risk is high at the national and regional levels and low globally. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on May 17 that the risk to the American public remains low. ### Why did WHO move before its emergency committee met? Tedros said on May 19 that he declared the emergency before convening the Emergency Committee, calling it the first time a WHO director-general had taken that step under Article 12 of the International Health Regulations. He said he acted after consulting the health ministers of Congo and Uganda and because of the need for urgent action. (who.int) WHO’s formal statement, dated May 17, said the outbreak in Congo and Uganda met the threshold for a public health emergency of international concern but not for a pandemic emergency. The agency cited the scale of the event, cross-border spread and uncertainty about the full extent of transmission. (who.int) ### What do officials say is making this outbreak hard to contain? Africa CDC confirmed a new outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 15, and WHO said it was scaling up support in Ituri Province. The Atlantic reported that within two days WHO had elevated the outbreak to a global emergency as officials confronted a fast-moving epidemic. (who.int) NPR reported on May 20 that WHO’s chief was concerned about the “scale and speed” of the outbreak. NPR said authorities had reported more than 500 cases and at least 134 suspected deaths. AP reported that cases had also been identified in Uganda, adding to concern about spread across borders. (afro.who.int) ### What is Bundibugyo virus, and why does it matter here? WHO said the outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a species of orthoebolavirus. CDC used the same classification in its May 17 response notice and said there is no change in its assessment that the risk to the U.S. public is low. STAT reported on May 17 that the declaration followed travel-related cases reported in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. (npr.org) WHO said the emergency designation is meant to support coordination under the International Health Regulations, including recommendations to countries and mobilization of response resources. (who.int) ### What does the 2014 Ebola response show about the scale of effort required? NPR reported on May 19 that bringing the 2014 Ebola outbreak under control required extensive U.S. involvement through USAID, the White House, CDC and the military. Former White House Ebola response coordinator Ron Klain told NPR affiliate stations that the earlier response depended on a broad interagency push. (statnews.com) CDC said on May 17 that it had mobilized teams through existing relationships with the Congo and Uganda health ministries. The agency said it is supporting outbreak investigation, laboratory work, infection prevention and border health measures. ### What happens next in the international response? The World Health Assembly opened in Geneva on May 19 with Tedros telling member states he had declared the emergency early on Sunday and needed urgent action. (wamc.org) WHO’s emergency process now moves through temporary recommendations, country coordination and resource mobilization tied to the PHEIC declaration. (cdc.gov) CDC said on May 17 that it would continue working with the ministries of health in Congo and Uganda and with international partners. WHO’s next public updates are expected through its disease outbreak news pages, emergency committee materials and director-general briefings as case counts and cross-border investigations develop. (cdc.gov) (who.int)