Health

WHO declares end of Ebola outbreak in Nigeria

(Editor’s note:  This is the statement of the World Health Organization declaring Nigeria Ebola-free.)  The Ebola virus was introduced into Nigeria on 20 July when an infected Liberian man arrived by aeroplane into Lagos, Africa’s most populous city. The man, who died in hospital 5 days later, set off a chain of transmission that infected a total of 19 people, of whom 7 died. According to WHO recommendations, the end of an Ebola virus disease […]

Liberia: working with communities is the key to stopping Ebola — WHO

(Courtesy World Health Organization features) —  Eight weeks ago, when Dr Peter Clement arrived in Lofa County, Liberia, from WHO’s office in Monrovia, 20-30 patients were coming to the Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) hospital with Ebola-like symptoms every day. People living in the community were afraid, civil unrest was simmering, and ambulance and health workers were being targeted. WHO/C. Black Against United Nations security advice, Dr Clement travelled 12 hours over dirt roads to Lofa, […]

Human testing begins on NewLink Genetics’ Ebola vaccine

(Reuters) — Human testing of an experimental Ebola vaccine developed by the Canadian health agency and licensed to NewLink Genetics Corp has begun, the Canadian government announced on Monday (October 13) The early-stage trial will test the vaccine, VSV-EBOV, on a small group of people to determine whether the vaccine is safe and the appropriate dose necessary to provide immunity, officials said. Canada’s Public Health Agency has been working on the vaccine for years, local media reported. Speaking in Toronto, Chief Public Health Officer, […]

Boston hospital monitoring patient for possible Ebola case

(Reuters) — A man in Massachusetts who recently returned from Liberia is being evaluated at aBoston hospital for a potential case of Ebola after complaining of a headache and muscle aches, health officials said on Sunday (October 12). The patient is at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center but there is no confirmation of Ebola, said Dr. Kenneth Sands, chief quality officer at Beth Israel. The response in Massachusetts demonstrates the high state of alert medical facilities are under since a Texas health worker became the first person on […]