Ebola Outbreak Declared a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’ by WHO

In a press conference held on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC). This decision was made in response to the rapid spread of the virus across several countries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and beyond.

The Situation on the Ground

The current outbreak, which began in August 2018, has seen a total of over 3,400 confirmed cases and over 2,100 reported deaths. The virus has spread to at least 20 health zones in the DRC, with cases also reported in Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of the Congo. The number of cases has not yet shown a clear decline, indicating that the outbreak remains a significant public health threat.

Reasons for the Declaration

The WHO made the decision to declare a PHEIC on the basis of several factors. These included:

• The number of new cases and deaths reported each week, which has not shown a clear decline.
• The geographic breadth of the outbreak, with cases reported in at least 20 health zones in the DRC and beyond.
• The complexity of the outbreak, including the involvement of multiple health systems, security challenges, and humanitarian crises.
• The risk of further spread, with concerns about the potential for cases to be introduced into new areas and regions.

Global Response

The declaration of a PHEIC triggers a range of global responses. These include:

• The activation of the WHO Incident Management System to coordinate the global response.
• A WHO Emergency Operations Center to support coordination and communication.
• Increased financial support, including a call for $10 million in emergency funding to support the response effort.
• Calls for enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, and isolation measures.
• Promotion of safe and informed vaccination practices.

Next Steps

In the coming days and weeks, the global response to the Ebola outbreak will continue to evolve and intensify. This will include:

• Ongoing surveillance and monitoring to track the spread of the virus.
• Targeted vaccination efforts in high-risk areas.
• Promotion of safe and informed vaccination practices.
• Increased coordination among governments, health organizations, and other stakeholders.

The WHO, along with its partners, will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary. In the meantime, the global response to this PHEIC will focus on containing the outbreak, protecting vulnerable populations, and preventing further spread of the virus.