WHO Declares Hantavirus Global Outbreak Officially Over; Ebola Continues Spreading in DR Congo

Hantavirus Crisis Ends

The hantavirus global outbreak is officially over, with the World Health Organization (WHO) chief announcing the update on Thursday. The final contact of a person exposed to hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius completed their quarantine period, tested negative and returned home, with no further cases reported since 25 May. The total number of cases from the outbreak remains 13, including three deaths, with more than 650 contacts identified and followed up by health authorities in 33 countries and territories.

Ebola Outbreak Accelerates in Central Africa

While hantavirus has been contained, the situation in Africa has grown dire. As of Thursday, 1,406 Ebola cases have been confirmed, and 438 people have died as the outbreak continues to expand in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with an average of 38 new confirmed cases every day for the past two weeks. In Uganda, no new cases of Ebola have been reported since 21 June.

Response Efforts Strengthened

The response has been strengthened under the DRC Government's leadership, with testing capacity expanding to 10 laboratories set up closer to communities alongside improved contact tracing and treatment capacity. However, the Ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to spread faster than aid efforts can keep pace, despite significant gains in treatment capacity and growing community engagement.

Other Global Health Threats Loom

Beyond infectious disease, WHO highlighted a persistent invisible crisis. Today, 6.5 billion people are exposed to air pollution, exceeding WHO interim targets, with this "invisible threat" linked to diseases including heart disease, stroke and lung cancer, and associated with 6.7 million premature deaths each year.