Jakarta, May 26 -- An Indonesian health policy group urged the government to strengthen preparedness for Ebola after the World Health Organization designated the outbreak a global health emergency, warning that the virus could escalate into a pandemic-like crisis.

Mustakim, project manager for community-based surveillance at the Indonesian Health Policy Space (RUKKI), said on Tuesday that the WHO designation had raised global concern despite Indonesia reporting no confirmed local cases.

"The PHEIC status is not merely a label, but a warning that Ebola carries a high risk of developing into a global health crisis like COVID-19," Mustakim said in Jakarta.

He said Indonesia needed preventive rather than reactive measures, citing Ebola's f...