DRC Ebola Outbreak Is Global Health Emergency

The World Health Organization has officially declared the current outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a “public health emergency of international concern.” 

The move comes after the first case was confirmed in the Eastern city of Goma earlier this week and an additional case confirmed in Uganda, where the outbreak claimed the lives of three victims last month.  

The spread to Goma, a city of more than a million people, has raised concerns regarding the progression of the outbreak that has already claimed the lives of an estimated 1,676 victims since August 2018 and appears to be gathering speed with around 12 new cases being reported daily.

The current Ebola outbreak is the second largest on record, with over 2,500 infected to date. The declaration by WHO follows a similar one issued during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa that killed 11,000 between 2014 and 2016. It has only been issued on four previous occasions. 

While WHO is calling for international attention and assistance no restrictions have been placed on travel or trade as of yet. The reason given for this was that such restrictions can work against efforts to stem the spread of the disease, by encouraging people to use unofficial borders and routes which are not subject to monitoring or safety checks.