Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ebola Cases In Congo Are Grossly Undercounted, WHO Says
France 24: DR Congo Ebola Outbreak's True Scale Could Be Four Times Bigger Than Official Toll, WHO Says
The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be four times bigger than official figures suggest. According to the DR Congo's latest official figures, the haemorrhagic fever has infected more than 1,960 people and killed over 700 since it was detected two months ago. But WHO emergencies director Chikwe Ihekweazu told reporters in Geneva that its modelling indicated "the scale of the outbreak is at least two to four times the number of cases that we have found." (7/14)
Reuters: WHO Says It Has Less Than Half Funding Needed To Fight Ebola
The World Health Organization has received less than half the funding it needs to fight the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a WHO official said on Tuesday, urging donors not to abandon the country at a critical stage of the epidemic. The global health agency has received about 40% of its $115 million appeal to tackle the Bundibugyo outbreak, for which there is no proven treatment or vaccine. At least 1,926 people have been infected and 702 have died, government data show. ... He repeated estimates that the true number of Ebola cases in Congo is at least double, and possibly over four times, the official tally. (7/14)
CIDRAP: Africa CDC Calls For More Protection For Health Workers As Deadly Ebola Outbreak Shows No Sign Of Slowing
The leader of the Africa Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (Africa CDC), is calling for stronger protections for first responders, including more gear and enhanced safety protocols in light of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is officially entering its second month and showing little signs of slowed transmission. (Soucheray, 7/13)
Also —
Reuters: Exclusive: US To Block Citizens In Congo From Immediate Travel Home, Citing Ebola
The Trump administration on Monday said it is blocking American citizens in the Democratic Republic of Congo from traveling to the U.S. on commercial flights, according to a White House official. The order, which is being taken under a transportation authority known as Title 49, will place U.S. citizens in Congo or those who have recently left on a “do-not-board” list until they have spent at least 21 days in a third country, the person said. (Hunnicutt, 7/13)
The Washington Post: Second American Infected With Ebola Is Responding Well To Treatment In Germany
A second American infected with Ebola while working in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been transferred to Germany for care and is responding positively to treatment, his employer, an evangelical Christian organization said. Samaritan’s Purse said its employee arrived Monday at Frankfurt University Hospital. “He has responded well to treatment, is in stable condition, and is receiving excellent medical care in the hospital’s special isolation unit,” the group said in a statement. (Sun, 7/13)
