WHO ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ About Ebola

The World Health Organization is cautiously optimistic that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo can be controlled after response efforts have so far averted the “explosive increase” in cases officials had earlier feared, Peter Salama, WHO’s Deputy Director of Preparedness and Response said on Tuesday.

Peter Salama, WHO Deputy Director-General for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said more than 400 potential Ebola contacts had been vaccinated.

Although he could not say for certain the city had been safeguarded, he was cautiously optimistic, and there had been no explosive increase in cases.

He also said he hoped to get government approval within days to use five experimental drugs to treat Ebola patients, in a clinical trial which could lay the groundwork for more rapid treatments in future outbreaks.

Source: ewn.