WHO warns of a “high risk” of Ebola expansion in sub-Saharan Africa

Published at: 23/06/2026 10:26 AM

The World Health Organization (WHO) described the risk of spreading the current Ebola outbreak in the sub-Saharan African region as “high”. Despite the fact that the global risk assessment remains at a “low” level, the international organization urged intensification of epidemiological surveillance and health controls to contain the progression of the disease.

The seriousness of the current situation is no less serious: this outbreak is already formally classified as the third worst Ebola epidemic in recorded history. In terms of mortality, the current scenario is only surpassed by the devastating episode in West Africa (2014-2016), which claimed more than 11,000 lives, and the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2018-2020), which left 2,299 deaths.

About transmission: The Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of infected people or animals, triggering serious symptoms of hemorrhagic fever, vomiting and internal bleeding that are difficult to manage clinically.

Field health response teams prioritize the early isolation of suspected cases, strict contact tracing, and strengthening biosafety cords in border communities to mitigate the impact on the region.

Mazo News Team