WHO Ebola meeting to consider altering responses to outbreak

October 23rd, 2014 (VOA) Officials from the World Health Organization are due to brief reporters Thursday after a meeting to review the latest developments in the Ebola outbreak that has killed about 4,900 people in West Africa.

The WHO’s Emergency Committee on Ebola began its meeting Wednesday, and is considering whether to alter its recommendations for responding to the outbreak.

There have been at least 9,900 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola, with the vast majority reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Vaccines

Also likely to be discussed at a Thursday’s meeting in Geneva, drugmakers are looking for some kind of indemnity from governments or multilateral agencies against possible losses or claims arising from the widespread emergency use of new Ebola vaccines in Africa.

The issue will likely not delay the industry’s work to accelerate production and clinical testing of three experimental vaccines.

The WHO Director-General Margaret Chan will chair the meeting, which includes industry executives, representatives from countries including those affected by Ebola, drug regulators and funders.

GlaxoSmithKline Chief Executive Andrew Witty said a system of indemnity made sense given the unique situation in which companies are being urged by the WHO to fast-track the supply of novel vaccines in a matter of months rather than years.

Witty said indemnity was not a concern for the early phase of testing, when thousands of doses are expected to be given to frontline healthcare workers as part of a clinical trial program in January, but it would be needed when vaccines were rushed into much more widespread use.

Brian Greenwood, a professor of clinical tropical medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, agrees that drug companies should not have to shoulder all the risk.

There is currently no proven vaccine against Ebola and drug companies have been wary in the past of investing in the area, since the commercial opportunity is small. Potential losses or claims arising from the use of new vaccines would represent an additional hurdle.

US screening measures

U.S. federal health officials are ordering travelers from those countries to monitor their health for 21 days and give local health departments daily reports on their temperature and whether they have any Ebola symptoms.

The monitoring program will start Monday in six Eastern states – Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia – where the majority of those travelers would visit.

They will be given an Ebola kit when they arrive at airports, including a thermometer.

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama held his first official meeting with his new “Ebola czar,” Ron Klain. His job is to coordinate anti-Ebola efforts of multiple U.S. government agencies and aid groups.

After the talks, Obama said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to make sure every American hospital has a plan to handle any Ebola case.

Also Wednesday, a fresh contingent of Cuban doctors and nurses departed Cuba for Guinea and Liberia to help with the Ebola outbreak response.

The 83 doctors and nurses are the latest group of Cuban medical professionals sent to West Africa through an agreement with the WHO.