The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is not yet an emergency of international concern, the World Health Organisation has concluded.
The decision follows a three-hour teleconference meeting of WHO’s emergency committee, called by the WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005).
Nine neighbouring countries of DRC, including Congo-Brazzaville and Central African Republic, have been supported with equipment and personnel because they are considered high risk.
The committee said although there is a risk of rapid spread because the virus had spread to an urban area and there have been several outbreaks in remote and hard to reach areas, the conditions for a PHEIC are not currently met.
However, it noted that that health care staff have been infected, which may be a risk for further amplification, and that the risk of international spread is high because the city of Mbandaka is close to the Congo river, which has significant regional traffic across porous borders.
The committee noted that the response by the DRC government, WHO and partners has been rapid and comprehensive since the outbreak was reported to WHO on 8 May 2018.
It believed that the outbreak can be brought under control and that the advanced preparations for use of the investigational vaccine provide further cause for optimism.
The conclusions of the meeting have been welcomed by Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of Wellcome.
He said: “The decision by WHO not to call a public health emergency of international concern is the right one for the time being. The response by the DRC authorities and the WHO has been swift and decisive.
“In the ten days since the first Ebola cases were confirmed, resources have been mobilised, diagnostic and treatment capabilities are being increased, contacts of those affected are being traced and followed up, and a vaccine has arrived in the country ready for deployment.
“These measures, heightened surveillance in surrounding countries and coordinated global action give us the best possible chance to protect the communities and healthcare workers most at risk of Ebola.
“However, we can’t predict how the outbreak will progress, and the WHO must keep the situation under frequent review and not hesitate to declare a PHEIC if the situation shows signs of deteriorating.”
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