National Geographic As Ebola cases mount in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, experts explain what causes the disease—and the risk this outbreak poses to the rest of the world. The World Health Organization has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern following an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in neighboring Uganda. The declaration is the second-noisiest alarm the agency can ring on an outbreak, and a signal to other member states to activate their national response and preparedness systems. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted in remarks to press that he “determined that the situation was not a pandemic emergency,” the agency’s new and highest classification for outbreaks.
As of May 20, officials say the outbreak has led to 139 deaths and nearly 600 suspected cases. Fifty-one cases have been confirmed in towns in the remote, densely forested northeastern Ituri province, and Uganda has confirmed two cases.
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