WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the COVID-19 and other diseases media briefing – 16 November 2022
16 November 2022
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Now, an update on the Ebola outbreak in Uganda .
Since we briefed you last week, there have been 6 more confirmed cases and 1 probable case of Ebola in Uganda, bringing the total to 141 confirmed and 22 probable cases.
There have also been 2 more confirmed Ebola deaths and 1 probable death, for a total of 55 confirmed and 22 probable deaths. 73 patients have now recovered.
The government’s efforts to respond to the outbreak have slowed transmission in most districts, and two districts have not reported any cases for 42 days, indicating the virus is no longer present in those districts.
However, in the past week the district of Jinja reported its first case, becoming the ninth district to be affected.
WHO and partners are supporting the government to intensify detailed case investigation, contact tracing, community engagement, and infection prevention & control measures.
Since the outbreak began, the Government of Uganda, together with researchers, funders, companies, regulatory authorities and other experts has been working under a global effort coordinated by WHO to accelerate the development and deployment of vaccines for use in trials.
Today, I’m pleased to announce that a WHO committee of external experts has evaluated three candidate vaccines and agreed that all three should be included in the planned trial in Uganda.
WHO and Uganda’s Minster of Health have considered and accepted the committee’s recommendation.
We expect the first doses of vaccine to be shipped to Uganda next week.
A separate group of experts has selected two investigational therapeutics for a trial, as well as a trial design that is now being submitted for approval by WHO and authorities in Uganda.
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16 November 2022
...
Now, an update on the Ebola outbreak in Uganda .
Since we briefed you last week, there have been 6 more confirmed cases and 1 probable case of Ebola in Uganda, bringing the total to 141 confirmed and 22 probable cases.
There have also been 2 more confirmed Ebola deaths and 1 probable death, for a total of 55 confirmed and 22 probable deaths. 73 patients have now recovered.
The government’s efforts to respond to the outbreak have slowed transmission in most districts, and two districts have not reported any cases for 42 days, indicating the virus is no longer present in those districts.
However, in the past week the district of Jinja reported its first case, becoming the ninth district to be affected.
WHO and partners are supporting the government to intensify detailed case investigation, contact tracing, community engagement, and infection prevention & control measures.
Since the outbreak began, the Government of Uganda, together with researchers, funders, companies, regulatory authorities and other experts has been working under a global effort coordinated by WHO to accelerate the development and deployment of vaccines for use in trials.
Today, I’m pleased to announce that a WHO committee of external experts has evaluated three candidate vaccines and agreed that all three should be included in the planned trial in Uganda.
WHO and Uganda’s Minster of Health have considered and accepted the committee’s recommendation.
We expect the first doses of vaccine to be shipped to Uganda next week.
A separate group of experts has selected two investigational therapeutics for a trial, as well as a trial design that is now being submitted for approval by WHO and authorities in Uganda.
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