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EBOLA OUTBREAK

WHO chief: 600 suspected cases, 139 suspected deaths, numbers expected to rise


WHO chief: 600 suspected cases, 139 suspected deaths, numbers expected to rise

This photograph shows a sign of the World Health Organization (WHO) at the entrance to its headquarters in Geneva, May 20, 2026. (Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)

The head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday there were 600 suspected cases of Ebola and 139 suspected deaths and numbers are expected to rise given the amount of time the virus circulated before the outbreak was detected.

A WHO Emergency Committee met on Tuesday in Geneva and confirmed that the latest Ebola outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus is a public health emergency of international concern but not a pandemic emergency, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Tedros declared the emergency at the weekend, the first time a WHO chief has taken that step without first consulting experts, due to the urgency of the situation, he said.

The head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday there were 600 suspected cases of Ebola and 139 suspected deaths and numbers are expected to rise given the amount of time the virus circulated before the outbreak was detected.

A WHO Emergency Committee met on Tuesday in Geneva and confirmed that the latest Ebola outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus is a public health emergency of international concern but not a pandemic emergency, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Tedros declared the emergency at the weekend, the first time a WHO chief has taken that step without first consulting experts, due to the urgency of the situation, he said.