WHO Declares Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern but Not Global Pandemic on May 20

According to Jin 10, on May 20, the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but not a global pandemic. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the emergency committee reached consensus on the designation, noting that the risk at national and regional levels remains high, while the global pandemic risk is low.

As of the announcement, authorities have confirmed cases alongside approximately 600 suspected Ebola cases and 139 suspected deaths attributed to the virus.