Since the outbreak began August 1, there have been 216 cases of Ebola including 139 deaths, according to WHO. Fifty-seven patients have recovered from Ebola illness during this outbreak.
This is the 10th outbreak since 1976 in Congo, where the virus is endemic.
The outbreak is in the eastern part of the country, having started in North Kivu province before spreading to Ituri province. Both areas are densely populated and border Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.
Security is one obstacle that has hindered efforts to control the outbreak.
The decision not to declare a public health emergency was made during an emergency committee meeting to review the latest information on the outbreak. The committee determined that the outbreak is of regional concern but there is not extreme global concern at this time.
WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern for an Ebola in August 2014 for the outbreak in West Africa that claimed 11,000 lives and was later determined to be the deadliest such outbreak.
The agency also declared a public health emergency of international concern in February 2016 over the Zika virus.
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