DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taag053 ISSN: 1195-1982
What leads to a public health emergency of international concern? A comparison of the 2026 Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks
Adam T Craig, Meru Sheel, Eric J Nilles, Colleen L LauWhy has WHO declared the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Congo a global emergency, but not the deadly hantavirus cruise ship outbreak? This article explains how transmission dynamics, epidemic potential, impact on travel and trade, and geopolitics shape the decision to declare a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern.’