The spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo is not yet a global health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.
The Ebola outbreak is the second biggest in history-infecting 1,206 people and killing 764. It shows no sign of being contained soon.
Efforts by healthcare workers have been hampered by conflict and rebel attacks, reports BBC.
And experts have warned it will be "very difficult to bring it under control".
But Prof Robert Steffen, chairman of the WHO's emergency committee on Ebola, said declaring an emergency would not change anything on the ground.
He said: "It does not mean we can lean back and relax.
"Funds are now needed to avoid a public health emergency of international concern."
The WHO said it had received only half the money it needed to tackle the disease.
The outbreak started in August 2018 and is still contained within two provinces in DRC - North Kivu and Ituri.