> calling it a global health emergency is laughable

Your complaint is with the NYT's re-phrasing, not the WHO.

WHO declaration is: "determined a public health emergency of international concern" https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2026-epidemic-of-ebola-d...

Obviously it's a local public health emergency, and some international concern seems warranted anytime an ebola strain pops up...