WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern; Africa CDC Declares Public Health Emergency of Continental Security

• WHO declared the Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 17 May 2026 under IHR (2005).
• Africa CDC simultaneously declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) — a relatively new continental-level alert mechanism.
• Relevant to UPSC for GS-II (Health/Int'l Organisations) and GS-III (Disaster Mgmt/S&T); tests knowledge of IHR, WHO governance, and India's preparedness architecture (IDSP, APHOs).