The World Health Organization's emergency committee on the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo met for the second time on Tuesday, three months after the outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus did not soften his assessment when he opened the session. In remarks to the committee, he said the epidemic is far from being under control, that it had a big head start, and that responders are still playing catch-up.
The emergency designation, first issued in May, remains in place, and updated recommendations to affected and at-risk countries are expected to follow. The figures behind the committee's work moved again this week. Tedros told the meeting that almost 5,000 people have been infected and more than 2,300 have died across six provinces and 55 health zones. Case counts, funding figures, and official guidance may change as agencies release updated findings.
