Ebola outbreak in Central Africa declared a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’


The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, citing rising cases, cross-border spread and significant uncertainties about the scale of the epidemic.

The decision, announced by WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus on Sunday, follows reports of both confirmed and suspected infections linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

While the situation is serious, it does not currently meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency under the WHO’s International Health Regulations.

Read more…
Source: UN News


Sign up for the Counter-IED Report Newsletters
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Kenya hosts regional EU-CBRN meeting

    February 18, 2025

    Countries in Eastern and Central Africa have been challenged to strengthen legal frameworks to counter terrorism and organized crime, amid concerns over illicit trafficking of radiological and nuclear materials. This call was made during a regional meeting attended by officials from at least 20 countries, where participants deliberated on the risks posed by porous borders and ...

  • DR Congo: Rwanda-backed M23 rebels occupy the city of Bukavu in South Kivu province

    February 17, 2025

    Rwanda-backed rebels have occupied a second major city in mineral-rich eastern Congo, the government said Sunday, as M23 rebels confirmed they were in the city to restore order after it was abandoned by Congolese forces. The Congo River Alliance, a coalition of rebel groups that includes the M23, said in a statement that its fighters “decided ...

  • Benin: Militant attack kills six soldiers

    February 17, 2025

    A militant attack on an army position has killed six soldiers in northern Benin, where government troops are trying to curb cross-border assaults by armed Islamist groups, an army spokesperson said. The encounter on Saturday also left 17 militants dead, spokesperson Ebenezer Honfoga told Reuters late on Sunday, without giving further details. The incident follows the ...

  • Libyan state minister survives assassination attempt in Tripoli

    February 12, 2025

    A Libyan state minister survived an assassination attempt when gunmen opened fire on his car in the capital Tripoli on Wednesday, a government statement said. The Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) strongly condemned the attack in which it said an unknown group had shot directly at the vehicle of the state minister for cabinet affairs ...

  • Uganda: Ebola cases in rise to 9, while 265 others are being monitored under quarantine

    February 11, 2025

    Ebola cases in Uganda have risen to nine, while 265 other people were being monitored under quarantine, health authorities said Tuesday. The nine include the first victim, a male nurse who died the day before the outbreak was declared on Jan. 30. That man remains the only fatality. Eight patients “are receiving medical care and are ...

  • Somalia: ISIS attacks military bases in Puntland

    February 11, 2025

    ISIS attacked military bases in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland state overnight with suicide car and motorbike bombs, a military official said on Tuesday. Puntland announced a major offensive against ISIS and a rival group, the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab, in December and claims to have since killed dozens of foreign fighters, captured several ISIS bases, and forced ...

  • UN Security Council hears of persistent and evolving Da’esh threat

    February 10, 2025

    The terrorist group Da’esh, also known as ISIL, remains a serious global security threat despite years of sustained efforts to dismantle its operations, UN counter-terrorism officials warned during a Security Council meeting on Monday. The discussion focused on the 20th biannual report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh to international peace and security. ...

  • Nigeria: Boko Haram IEDs kill two, injure others on market trip in Adamawa

    February 7, 2025

    Two people have been killed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by Boko Haram terrorists while traveling to a market in Adamawa State. The incident occurred on Tuesday along the route between Harang and Jibhuhwui villages in Hawul LGA, Borno State, and Garkida market in Adamawa State when the victims’ vehicle hit the explosives. Borno State ...

  • Tanzania, U.S. Announce Two Joint Military Training Exercises

    February 6, 2025

    The U.S. and Tanzanian governments announced Thursday the upcoming two joint training exercises and programmes aimed at “enhancing regional security and peacekeeping capabilities,” according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy. The land-based Justified Accord 2025 will focus on building Tanzania Peoples Defense Forces (TPDF) peacekeeping capabilities, while the naval-based Cutlass Express maritime exercise brings together ...

  • EU SDI GOG: Learning to overcome Improvised Explosive Devices in Benin

    February 5, 2025

    A mobile training team (Mobile Training Team/MTT), made up of five military trainers from the Engineer Battalion of the Spanish Army’s XVI ‘Canarias’ Brigade, is giving a course on Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IEDs) in Porto Novo, the capital of Benin. This is the second course that Spain has given in this African country, as part ...

  • Cambodia: CMAC, Nigerian team discuss demining work

    February 5, 2025

    Heng Ratana, Director General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), met with a Nigerian deminers to discuss work related to demining in Nigeria at CMAC’s office on Monday. During Monday’s visit to the CMAC, the Nigerian reprsentatives wanted to learn about Cambodia’s strong capabilities in mine action. With over three decades of experience in mine ...

  • U.S. Forces Conduct Strike Targeting ISIS-Somalia

    February 1, 2025

    In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia on Feb. 1, 2025. The command’s initial assessment is that multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives were killed in the airstrikes and no civilians were harmed. U.S. Africa Command takes great measures to prevent civilian harm. Protecting civilians remains a vital part of the ...

  • Chad: France hands over last military base to local authorities

    January 30, 2025

    France handed over its last military base in Chad to local authorities on Thursday, two months after the former French colony in central Africa broke off its defense cooperation agreement with Paris. Chad has been a key counterterrorism force in the region and was one of the last countries in which France maintained a large military ...

  • Uganda confirms new Ebola outbreak

    January 30, 2025

    Uganda has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SUDV) in the capital city of Kampala. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Health today following positive tests from three National Reference Laboratories. “Our rapid response teams are fully deployed, contact tracing is underway, and all necessary measures are in place to contain the ...

  • Nigeria: Illegal stockpiling of explosives responsible for Mashegu blast

    January 28, 2025

    Commissioner of Police in Niger State, CP Shawulu Danmamman, described the recent dynamite explosion in Sabon Pegi community, Mashegu Local Government Area, as unfortunate. The explosion occurred due to the indiscriminate storage of dynamite in residential areas, which the community allegedly concealed. CP Danmamman’s stand reiterated disclosure by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake ...