The Ebola outbreak in the DRC declared "international emergency"

DRC: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was described as a "public health emergency of concern." (PHEIC) ".

This statement follows the first confirmed case of Ebola in the city of Goma, which has 2 million inhabitants and is close to the border with Rwanda.

The epidemic has killed 1,705 people since its inception last August, according to the WHO.

"It is time for the whole world to take notice and redouble efforts. We must work together, in solidarity with the DRC, to end this epidemic and put in place a better health system, "said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, according to a press release published by the world body.

He added: "Extraordinary work has been done for almost a year under the most difficult circumstances. We all owe it to these stakeholders – not only from WHO, but also from government, partners and communities – to shoulder a greater share of the burden. "

The ongoing epidemic in the DRC has been clbadified by the WHO as a Level 3 emergency, the most serious of its kind.

The organization called on the borders to remain open despite the urgency.

WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters: "The main recommendation for the rest of the world is this: support the DRC and do not panic."

"Do not close the borders. Do not put on travel and trade restrictions. Do not panic, "she added.

Ebola is one of many problems that the vast resource-rich country is currently facing. According to the WHO, measles has killed more than 2,000 people in the country in 2019.

"They see it as a bigger problem than the Ebola virus," Harris said of measles. "It's not a priority on their agenda; they would like to have good roads, clean water, they would like to know that their children can reach their fifth birthday and not die of measles. "

Violence by armed groups in the Ebola-affected provinces of Ituri and North Kivu has also displaced more than 300,000 people since early June, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. United Nations (OCHA).

"I pay tribute to the hundreds of #DRC government respondents, our partners, and our staff who, at the time of our conversation, are putting themselves at risk of serving others," Dr. Ghebreyesus said on Twitter. "More than ever, they need our support to end this epidemic."