WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo, Uganda a global public health emergency

The World Health Organisation on Sunday declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a "public health emergency of international concern".

The WHO said ‌the ⁠outbreak, caused ⁠by the Bundibugyo virus, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency.

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The U.N. health agency said in a statement that 80 suspected deaths, eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 ⁠suspected cases ‌had been reported as of Saturday in DRC's Ituri ⁠province across at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.

The ​DRC health ministry had said on Friday that 80 people had died in the new outbreak in the eastern province.

In Uganda's ‌capital, Kampala, two apparently unrelated laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death, were reported on ⁠Friday and Saturday, from people travelling from the DRC, the WHO said.

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A laboratory-confirmed case ​was also reported in the DRC capital, Kinshasa, from a person returning from Ituri, the WHO said.