The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo an international public health emergency, the highest level of alarm the global health body can sound. The declaration reflects fears that the virus could spread across the region, with the WHO urging other countries to increase their vigilance.
The fatality rate for Ebola disease is around 50 per cent, but can be significantly higher in certain outbreaks. Health officials say the outbreak likely began weeks before it was detected, and the true scale of the crisis remains unknown. More cases and deaths are expected in the coming weeks as surveillance efforts intensify.
The declaration draws comparisons with the most serious Ebola outbreak in history, which swept through West Africa between 2014 and 2016, killing over 11,000 people. While the current outbreak has not reached that scale, the WHO's decision to declare an emergency signals deep concern about its trajectory and the capacity of local health systems to contain it.
Despite the severity of the situation in Central Africa, health authorities have stressed that this is not a pandemic and the risk to people in Europe and other distant regions remains extremely low at this stage. International health teams are being mobilised to support containment efforts in the affected areas.
This article was prepared by AVALW News editorial based on monitoring Sky News live broadcast (detected at 02:29 UTC on 19 May 2026). The original segment can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDvsBbKfLPA&t=7742s