WHO to hold emergency committee meeting as Ebola death toll rises to 131
WHO is to hold an emergency committee meeting to discuss vaccine options for the new epidemic. The meeting is scheduled for later on Tuesday. An emergency committee is made up of international experts who provide technical advice and recommendations to the WHO chief.
The toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has risen to an estimated 131 deaths from 513 suspected cases, according to Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba. Previous figures from the epidemic were 91 people dead out of 350 suspected cases. The WHO chief said on Tuesday that he was "deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic", which has already started spreading into Uganda. The outbreak's epicentre is in the northeastern province of Ituri on the border with Uganda and South Sudan. The virus has already spread into neighboring provinces, as far as 200km (125 miles) away from what has been identified as the epidemic's ground zero and also beyond the DRC's borders. No vaccine or treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
A World Health Organization official said that six tons of supplies to fight Ebola were set to arrive in the DRC on Tuesday, including personal protective equipment and other medical supplies. Germany is preparing to admit and treat a United States citizen who contracted Ebola in the DRC. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that the American had contracted the virus after exposure related "to their work" in the DRC and tested positive late on Sunday.
Quick Summary
The WHO is convening an emergency committee meeting to address the escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). With the death toll rising, experts will discuss vaccine options - but what challenges do they face?
Summary - read the full story for complete context.

Image: MyJoyOnline
GhanaFront aggregates news from trusted sources. Click to read the original article.
Keywords
Explore related tagsMore from MyJoyOnline
Related Stories
More from Health

Ebola vaccine could take nine months as death toll continues to rise, WHO warns
The WHO warns a vaccine could take nine months - what challenges are health workers facing right now?
3h ago•4 min read

Health Ministry issues Ebola alert after WHO declares global public health emergency
Citizens are urged to observe safety precautions, but what specific measures are being recommended?
23h ago•2 min read

'Ebola has tortured us': Fear grips eastern DR Congo as deadly virus spreads
A deadly virus spreads, and residents are terrified - what challenges do health officials face in containing it?
16h ago•4 min read

Ebola outbreak may be spreading faster than first thought, WHO doctor warns
Locals near the epicenter of the deadly outbreak are living in fear - but why are officials so concerned?
16h ago•4 min read




