🔴 IN FULL: Ebola update from World Health Organization

Añadido: 2026-05-21

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[00:02:36]>> Yes.

[00:02:53]Now it's time to go.

[00:05:16]recording in progress.

[00:05:56]Hello to everyone from uh who headquarters here in Geneva. My name is Tariq and I welcome you uh for our press conference on the outcomes of emergency committee meeting regarding the epidemic of Ebola libu virus disease in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Uh very warm welcome to everyone online but also to journalists who are uh here in our press room with us. Both journalists who are credited journalists at the UN in Geneva but also journalists who came specifically for the ongoing World Health Assembly that is taking place this week here in Geneva both in the UN at WHO building. Uh I will introduce our speakers uh and then we will open the floor to questions. We'll be taking questions from the room first and then also we'll take few questions from journalists online. Uh with us uh we have as always Dr. Tedras who director general. We also have Dr. Muhammad Yaku Janabi who is our regional director for Africa. Uh Dr. Chikuazu is executive director of health emergencies program for WHO. Dr. Marie Rosalin Bleiser is regional emergency director and manager uh for this outbreak in our regional office for Africa. With us is also Dr. Abdi Rahman Mahmuda, director for health emergency alert and response operations. Ana Leon is a technical officer for high threat pathogens at the health emergency program here in Geneva. We also have uh with us in the room Steve Solomon our principal legal officer and Dr. Vasi Morty who is lead at interim of research and development blueprint. Online we should have uh uh professor Lucille Bloomberg who is the chair of WHIHR emergency committee uh on uh on Ebola bundu virus disease outbreak. Uh we also have Dr. Jean Mario who is a vischair of the WHR emergency committee. We should also have our representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Dr. and Ania and he she should be also able to join and give us update from the field uh with the uh this uh and we should also let me not forget we should have online Robera Angetti who is uh um focal point for emergency health uh uh for the emergency committee and international health regulations with this I'll give the floor to Dr. Toss for his opening remarks.

[00:08:49]>> Thank you. Thank you, Tariq.

[00:08:52]Thank you to our Akanu colleagues for joining us today in person and to other members of the press uh online. Good morning uh and hello to uh everybody and thank you for joining us. Early on Sunday, I declared a public health emergency of international concern over an epidemic of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. This is the first time a director general has declared a thick before convening an emergency committee.

[00:09:32]I took this step in accordance with article 12 of the international health regulations. After consulting the ministers of health of DRC and Uganda and in view of the need for urgent action, I determined that the situation was not a pandemic emergency which is the new and highest classification under the amended international health regulations.

[00:10:00]After declaring the FIK, I immediately convened an emergency committee under the IHR which met yesterday and agreed that the situation is a public health emergency of international concern but is not a pandemic emergency.

[00:10:19]WHO assess the risk of the epidemic as the high at the national and regional levels and low at the global level.

[00:10:30]So far 51 cases have been confirmed in the DRC in the northern provinces of Ituri and North Ku including in the cities of Buna and GMA although we know the scale of the epidemic in DRC is much larger.

[00:10:51]Uganda has also informed WHO of two confirmed cases in the capital Kala, including one death among two individuals who traveled from DRC to Uganda.

[00:11:05]An American national who was working in DRC has also been confirmed positive and been transferred to Germany.

[00:11:14]There are several factors that warrant serious concern about the potential for further spread and further deaths.

[00:11:23]First, beyond the confirmed cases, there are almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths.

[00:11:32]We expect those numbers to keep increasing given the amount of time the virus was circulating before the outbreak was detected.

[00:11:44]Second, the epidemic has expanded with cases reported in several urban areas.

[00:11:53]Third, deaths have been reported among health workers indicating healthcare associated transmission.

[00:12:03]Fourth, there is significant population movement in the area.

[00:12:09]The province of Ituri is highly insecure.

[00:12:13]Conflict has intensified since late 2025 and fighting has escalated significantly over the past two months with over 100,000 people newly displaced.

[00:12:30]The area is also a mining zone with high levels of population movement that increase the risk of further spread.

[00:12:41]And fibs, this epidemic is caused by bundu virus, a species of Ebola virus for which there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics.

[00:12:54]In light of all these risks, I decided it was urgent to act immediately to prevent mortars and mobilize an effective and international response.

[00:13:07]I would like to thank the government of DRC, the National Institute of Biomedical Research, the National Institute of Public Health, and the local health authorities in the affected areas for their leadership and cooperation.

[00:13:20]I also thank the government of Uganda for postponing the annual martr's day celebrations which can attract up to 2 million people because of the risk posed by the epidemic.

[00:13:35]My thanks especially to his excellency president Musevani for taking this action.

[00:13:41]WH has a team on the ground supporting national authorities to respond.

[00:13:47]We have deployed people, supplies, equipment, and funds.

[00:13:52]To support our response, I have approved an additional $3.4 million dollars from the contingency fund for emergencies, bringing the total to $3.9 million.

[00:14:07]In the absence of vaccines and therapeutics, there are many other measures countries can take to stop the spread of the virus and save lives.

[00:14:17]which the emergency committee has outlined in its temporary recommendations.

[00:14:23]To say more, I'm pleased to invite the chair of the committee, Professor Lucil Bloomberg from the University of Ptoria in South Africa.

[00:14:34]Professor Bloomberg, thank you for your leadership at this time and over to you.

[00:14:41]>> So, good morning uh GG, Dr. Tedras and members of the media. Um the first meeting under the international health regulations of the Ebola emergency committee took place uh last night and I would like to thank the members and advisers on this committee, the vice chair and the rapotur um for convening at such short notice and sharing their expertise and experience um in uh responding to this this meeting and the call to respond to this outbreak. I'd like to thank the WHO secretariat for their support and excellent work. We recognize the DG's um swift action in response to Ebola um by um declaring this a public health emergency of international concern and the members um voiced their strong support for the continuation of this as a public health emergency of international concern.

[00:15:44]The committee was informed by input from um the two countries currently experiencing uh Ebola outbreaks, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Uganda, as well as the WHO Secretariat.

[00:16:00]We acknowledge the country's um honesty and transparency and recognize the many activities in response to this outbreak.

[00:16:11]I would particularly like to uh applaud the excellent work of the research institutes in both the DRC and uh Uganda in rapidly identifying the strain as bundujo through genetic sequencing.

[00:16:27]Our deliberations um around recommendations were considered in the context of the many challenges of this outbreak. the scale of the outbreak, the less common Bundabuja strain for which there are no available specific drugs and vaccines and diagnostics reply required are different to those that have been used in previous outbreaks of Ebola.

[00:16:53]the context of the outbreak in the eastern DRC and the humanitarian crisis needs and security challenges, highly mobile population, uh close uh um proximity to many borders, uh the need to protect health care workers and the need to continue important uh other programs for diseases such as TB, malaria, uh maternal and child health um are highly considered the uh WHO and partners and uh like to recognize Africa CDC have mobilized in support of existing rapid responses by the DRC and Uganda together with many um partners. However, resources, additional people, many resources, research and development of uh counter measures is urgently required.

[00:17:48]uh the director the the DG has uh I think outlined the um important outbreak traditional outbreak responses that need to be intensified. Surveillance identification of contacts the need for infection prevention and control.

[00:18:06]Protection of healthare workers and families is absolutely paramount as well as protecting lives and livelihoods.

[00:18:16]Um we need to support the rapid development and research around counter measures. Um so the um and the resources required for this. The current situation and criteria for a public health emergency of international concern have been met. Um and we agree that the current situation does not satisfy the criteria for a pandemic uh emergency.

[00:18:45]The people in the area and those who respond need to be kept safe and allowed to be able to do what they need to do in a critical time such as this. I would like to acknowledge the unique role of the WHO in its convening and uh organizing power for responding to to these outbreaks. The role of the media as an important partner in communicating is absolutely critical. I thank you.

[00:19:18][snorts] >> Thank you. Thank you so much Dr. Bloomberg and Tarik. Back to you.

[00:19:26]>> Thank you very much Dr. Tedus and Professor Bloomberg for these initial words. We will now open the floor to questions but just maybe to signal to everyone that unfortunately Dr. Ansia who is our representative in Democratic Republic of the Congo is not able to to join us. Uh so there are lots of hands already on the on the zoom but we will start with three questions from the room and uh let's start with Krine Fian.

[00:19:57]>> Thank you. Thank you so much Derek and thank you to Dr. Tedrris and his team for organizing this press conference on Ebola. My question is related um to vaccines and um drugs uh that could uh fight um this uh form of Ebola. We've heard yesterday um that the representative of WH um in Bunya spoke about two months in order to find um identify a vaccine and they spoke also about um uh trials. So could you please elaborate on that and give us more um details? Thank you so much.

[00:20:38]>> Thank you very much Kine. It's just possible just to introduce yourself once you ask questions. So so everyone knows >> Katherine.

[00:20:48]>> Thank you very much Katherine. I think we can start with Dr. Mori uh who is a lead acting lead uh for the research and development blueprint.

[00:21:02]Thank you. Thank you for the question.

[00:21:04]So the R&D blueprint is is fully activated to accelerate research and development for medical countermeasures in this context. We've been uh ongoing for many many years through through previous outbreaks. Um so as DG said in I would like to start um before going into the R&D by saying that I think the important statement to make is that we must really uh scale up uh intensive care patient referral pathways um and prepare for a a fairly promising pipeline in terms of therapeutics. So there certainly is hope along the way.

[00:21:40]Clearly we do not have any approved vaccines for bundukio. So the question was about the pipeline for bundukio.

[00:21:48]There is a RSRVS bundukio vaccine. So this would be the equivalent of vibo um which would be specific for bundukio. There are no doses of this which are currently available for clinical trial. So this needs to be prioritized as the most promising bundukio candidate vaccine. Um the information that we have is that this is likely to take six to n months.

[00:22:16]Um before that uh there is a another candidate vaccine um that is being developed that is based on the the Chadox one platform. So the same platform that was the Astroenica vaccine but with Bundugyu as the insert that is a collaboration between Oxford and Serum Institute of India. They are manufacturing that as we speak but there is no animal data to support that and so uh it is possible that doses of that could be available for clinical trial in two to three months but there is a lot of uncertainty about that and it will depend on the animal data as to whether that is considered a promising candidate research vaccine for bundukio um so that's what I would say about the pipeline now thank you >> thank you very much Dr. Marty. Uh Anise, would you like to add something?

[00:23:12]>> No, just to reiterate a very important point that Vessie made. Um our priority right now is to help set up uh the platform starting with uh safe and um optimized uh treatment center good patient uh referral pathway to ensure that every single suspected case can be early detected and cared for uh while we are we are preparing for upcoming trial on promising candidate therapeutics. I think that's what is very important for everyone to to remember and this is being done as we speak. Thank you.

[00:23:54]>> Thank you very much uh and um Professor Bloomberg and Dr. Okabell if you want to come at any point just please signal on Zoom and and we will we will give you the floor. Uh let me look again at the room. Um, Rory, please.

[00:24:16]>> Uh, thank you. Uh, Rory O'Neal at Politico. Uh, I was wondering if you could comment on the decision by the US to impose a travel ban on Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan and, uh, whether you have any advice or recommendations for countries with more direct links to travel links to those countries on uh, whether that would be an appropriate public health measure to take. Thank you.

[00:24:42]Thank you very uh Dr. Muhammad would you like to start?

[00:24:48]>> Thanks for that question. Well, who recommendation for a long time is evidence and science base and solidarity for some time or we know what works.

[00:24:59]What works is contact tracing monitoring those contract isolation and immediate referral.

[00:25:08]give you an example like Uganda has done an incredible amount of work interesting all the contacts and putting them in in an institution or home quarantine monitoring them so we encourage all contacts and our recommendation we'll hear from the emergency committee what the recommendations are all contacts all cases should not travel so we would like to all countries and appreciate what they have done so far that's the first step of defense in terms of a glob global health security. Second element, countries are doing point of exit screening. Both Uganda DRC are already doing that. So in support of the activity done by Uganda and DRC and going in this humanitarian conflict area supporting them is the best medicine for the entire world in support of solidarity of DRC. It's a complex as DG said hundreds of thousand displaced population insecurity travel restrictions countries have subine they do their own risk assessment but they do have to provide to us the justification and the rational behind their mandates and we are seeing more more countries but currently our top priority is to work closely with DRC in ensuring all the contacts are traced and all the patients suspected are put in the clinical pathway. way and safe environment and with the best care provided.

[00:26:39]>> Thank you very much. Uh looking if anyone else would like to add something if not we will move to one more question from the room.

[00:26:48]>> Can I can I add something? I think it's important to remember and recognize how Ebola is transmitted. It requires direct contact of uh with blood and body fluids of an infected person. So it's not casual contact. It's not airborne. I think we need to be aware of that. And uh um this relates to uh travel uh restrictions which um are not supported under the um IHR recommendations and we've heard about contact tracing and uh um quarantine of those.

[00:27:27]Thank you very much uh Professor Bloomberg for adding that. Let's take one more question from the room. Nina Nina Larson.

[00:27:37]>> Thank you very much for taking my question. Nina Larson AFP. Um, I was wondering if we have any indication of how long Ebola has been spreading for or how long it had been spreading for before it was detected and uh if you have any response to uh US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who yesterday said that the WHO was a little late in identifying this current outbreak. What role do you see uh that WHO had in that detection and what impact do you think the US cuts may have had on on the speed with which this response happened? Thank you.

[00:28:13]>> Thank you Lina. Maybe we started Anaise.

[00:28:16]>> Thanks. Um this is a important question.

[00:28:19]I think a lot of people have um questions around that. So regarding the detection of uh this this outbreak again I would like to to remind everyone that uh the surveillance starts within the communities and start with u the health authorities in in every single country.

[00:28:40]As soon as uh WHO was aware of uh the signal, support was provided to DRC to investigate as quickly as as possible and this ended up with a confirmation u late last week. Um investigation are ongoing to assertain when and where exactly this outbreak started. Um given the the scale uh we are thinking that it has started probably couple of months ago but investigation are ongoing and our priority is really to cut the transmission chain by implementing uh contact tracing isolating and caring for all suspect and confirmed cases. I defer to my colleagues for the other question.

[00:29:27]>> Uh thank you Dr. Jabi. Would you like to add something?

[00:29:33]Yeah, on top of that, uh I think it's important detecting outbreaks such as Ebola in a complex setting like it repro in the DRSC is inherently challenging.

[00:29:47]Uh surveillance systems rely on a combination of community reporting, local health facilities, lab confirmation and a partner coordination.

[00:29:58]So in remote or insecure areas it can take time for cases to be recognized.

[00:30:04]Samples transported uh I said the other day from it to Kenshasa is 1,700 kilometers. So and so until diagnosis is confirmed. So it's very important to emphasize that primary responsibility for detecting outbreaks rests with national health authorities as part of the international health regulation framework. So your role is to support countries technically, operationally and with coordination so that signals are rapidly investigated and confirmed. I just wanted to add that >> Dr. Mah [snorts] just to build on the Ana and the pointress by Dr. Janabi is to put to put this in context this outbreak is happening in a highly endemic other diseases that present similar symptoms from malaria dentria and all other so that index of suspicion we've been picking signals from here and yesterday we had from the DRC authorities where their ongoing investigation are almost right now been completed what they told us yesterday was on April to induce there was a death of a patient always is a spillover. There's a first case being detected and then there will be a super spreading event either in a funeral or in a healthcare facility. So from the initial report they told us yesterday was April 20th was so-called index case and then the body was transferred on April 22nd. Why I'm spending some time here is just put this in context because big statement needs to be supported with data. So April 20th there was a death. April 22nd that body was transferred and May 5th was a super spreading event where we detected a a social media report of deaths in the communities. The provisional government with WH and investigation team on May to tooth where they collected sample did the AP investigations sample was sent to in INRB and out of those 13 samples eight was confirmed so between April 20th and May 8th you can in a highly malaria endemic zone if you don't have that high index suspicion if you don't have the right facility to test you can even in high income countries you will have that delay in the start of an outbreak. So when action were taken provisional government and the national government and the result were available in 16 hours I just in DRC we just need to salute and appreciate what was done in a hardly complex conflict settings.

[00:33:03]>> Thank you very much and Dr. is there.

[00:33:05]>> Maybe I can add to this.

[00:33:08]>> Yeah.

[00:33:11]Um so this uh is very important maybe on what the secretary said uh it could be from lack of understanding of how uh IHR works.

[00:33:26]um you know and responsibilities uh of who and and other entities um we don't replace the country's uh work we only support them uh so that's why there could be some lack of understanding uh but then of course there is a delay in in detection Uh and there are many factors here. Um number one is security.

[00:34:03]I said it in my speech. Uh it province has been marred with conflict for some years. But the last few months was even uh very intense. There was very intense fighting and the last couple of months even even more. in April um I think the highest number of civilians killed um and more than 100,000 people newly displaced you know hundreds of thousands displaced in it and live in camps and displacement means not only displacement of the uh population but of course including the health workers and you know health facilities cannot work optimally when um uh there is conflict and when the health workers are also fleeing as part of of course the community which is displaced so it affects the whole surveillance system and not only that it also affects uh access so I think it's very important to understand in what situation is even the surveillance itself and all the things that the country does is is is done the country has good capacity. By the way, they have good experience.

[00:35:23]This is the 17s and there was recent outbreak that they arrested it, detected it early and arrested it quickly. But this is more more complex. So that I think uh that's what uh we should understand the secretary or or others.

[00:35:41]And then the second issue is and especially with regard to rapid field test.

[00:35:50]Um there was a problem linked to the traditional test we use. As you know the traditional test is optimized with Z and the same sample was taken and tested but since the test kit is optimized with Z it could not be detected.

[00:36:11]And then of course um one samples were transferred to Kinshasa and they tried to see if there are other other things of you know um the samples were transferred to the National Institute of Biomedical Research INRB.

[00:36:27]Uh it takes time. Imagine from Ituri to Kinasa and then checking all that is is again adds to the complexity but as you know uh Bundi Bjo Bundi Bji U has been detected if I'm not wrong in 2007. So it it's very rare that adds to the complexity and lack of optimization in terms of test test kit. And then the third issue is um I think Abdi raised it nonspecific early symptoms for instance if you take um malaria and typhoid the early symptoms are the same and the region is very endemic to those to those um diseases. So the health workers they will the early [clears throat] signs they will associate it with malaria or typhoid and they don't they can't diagnose based on the symptoms they may start treating that also takes time. So it's very complex and it's very difficult to um follow a simplistic approach and say blame this or or that. It's very difficult. But as far as we know, the country has capacity. They're trying their best and and they will um um do their best. But it's very important to understand uh the complexity and before we conclude bring all the factors uh you know into uh some kind of understanding of the complexity. It's not that uh simple uh but from our side we don't replace countries this is the country's responsibilities each and every country uh but we support them thank you so much >> thank you Dr. I understand that professor Bloomberg would like to add.

[00:38:39]>> I think the DG has spoken about bunduja uh and the diagnostic challenges. So thank you very much.

[00:38:47]>> Thank you.

[00:38:49]And uh I'm just if anyone else would like to say something. If not uh let's go uh to journalist online uh and uh we will start with uh Jennifer Riby from Reuters. Jennifer.

[00:39:04]Hello. Yes, thank you for taking the question and for laying out the challenges in detection. Um, I appreciate that. But I just wanted to to check again if there's any guidance on whether any of the funding cuts from wealthy donor countries to DRC or or to WHO have contributed at all to the delay in detection or the availability of tests for this rare strain. Um, or are hampering the response. Now, >> thanks. I think it's a brief answer again the way I answered earlier and I we don't need to jump into conclusions before uh we understand the whole complexity. So it would be very difficult to associate it with with funding alone. So I would be happy uh to uh look at this properly and understand what were the pitfalls and of course learn from this and and improve for the future. Thank you.

[00:40:07]>> Thank you Dr. Tedras. Uh let's take two more questions from online and then we will go back to the room. Uh we have Janice Q from Bloomberg. Janice, >> hi. Can you hear me?

[00:40:24]>> Uh, we No, we can't hear you very well.

[00:40:28][clears throat] >> Sorry, I'm uh trying to adjust my microphone. Is that better?

[00:40:33]>> Yeah, yeah, it is better.

[00:40:35]>> Great. Thank you very much. Um, I was trying to find out uh Merk's uh Avivbo shot. Um I know that this is specifically used for the ZAS strain but will it be given to health workers protectively and the new promising vaccine uh candidate that was mentioned earlier by uh professor Bloomberg is that um also produced by Merc Jennis I think you got cut uh sorry for that uh um maybe maybe Dr. Dr. Morty can can answer that the first question that that we were able to hear.

[00:41:16]>> Yes. So u with respect to to Merk's Avibo um which is the the licensed Ebola ZA uh virus vaccine that is a vaccine for Ebola Zire disease. It is not a vaccine for bundy. Um there is as part of the R&D blueprint uh determination we have our usual processes which have been activated uh and are underway. So we have a vaccines R&D um technical advisory group. We have a therapeutics R&D technical advisory group. So these review any potential for research evaluation um in outbreak context. Those determinations are underway. I'm sorry I'm not sure about the other vaccine. I didn't actually hear any other vaccine that was being talked about but happy to take more questions.

[00:42:06]>> Thank you very much. Uh well Johnny as we didn't hear the second question you can send us email as everyone uh knows it's mediaw.intt Let's take one more question from live and if we can have a Kai Khmid from science who is uh who is with us. Kai.

[00:42:25]>> Yes. Hey T. Thank you so much. Just a really short uh easy thing probably but in terms of getting confirmed case numbers. Are you planning to have sits up or anything like that? It's been difficult to to get a good understanding of how how the confirmed cases are kind of occurring and where to check.

[00:42:49]Thanks. Uh so yeah, we are supporting and when I say we, it's our colleagues in the field working very closely with national authorities uh to um to get this uh the picture a bit a bit clearer as you mentioned. And our first priority is obviously to help uh the DRC and the instit bure to scale up um their diagnostic capacities in the field uh so that it helps improving the management of suspected cases uh identifying who is a confirmed case who is not and refers them to adequate treatment. So this is all working um in in process and we hope uh to streamline information in support of our colleagues in DRC uh to get you a clearer picture but also for everyone to understand the chain of transmission and being able to stop them to stop this outbreak. Thank you >> Maggie Rosali.

[00:43:50]>> Okay, thank you so much. just to build on what my colleague Anna is already said effectively we are working side by side with the government of D but first we're also working to have the trust of the community one things so we shouldn't forget in that outbreak is that this community are already being affected by a species of of another Ebola so not this community taken that they are protected from the from Ebola and there's a new specy from which they are not protected is very important that the choice and the community should be there. So the team is already in the field in Bona in Bhut in Katwa in GMA.

[00:44:30]In GMA we have a team that has never left GMA doing all the uh insecurity that has been there. So we are in the field we are doing the job together with the minister of health and supporting of that community for treatment center. We already identifying together with the minister where we can place the treatment center and you know in WH what we really recommend to country is to have the response closer to the community in order to avoid resistance at the community level. So the treatment center are being places in where the outbreak is ongoing. So far we have a more than 13 health zone that has been affected in two provinces. So the outbreak is really spreading. It is serious outbreak but it is not on this is something that we can control together. So other things that we are really doing is working together in trend coordination with Africa CDC in order to put all the resource together and to avoid duplication in the field.

[00:45:38]Thank you.

[00:45:40]Thank you very much uh Dr. Belizair. Um well we have time for a couple of more questions and let's see here back in the room Stefan and if we can really have one question very generally so we take few more before we close.

[00:45:56]>> Thank you very much Stefan Bisar from Raton newspaper. I have a question for professor Bloomberg. Uh you talked about your conversation yesterday within the emergency committee. Could you specify again the recommendations that the committee has made yesterday? Thank you.

[00:46:14]>> Yes, thank you very much for the question. So our task was to um decide whether this uh event constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. You heard from the DG that he had already declared this before the meeting. So we confirmed that uh we agreed with his decision and that this should continue. It satisfies all the criteria. Um we heard from the countries um and uh about their actions and uh heard about many of the challenges and our role is to provide um additional or supported temporary recommendations to member states that's around many of the things we've already discussed today.

[00:47:00]the need for R&D, um the need to scale up surveillance, uh quarantine and um identification of of contacts, safe burials. I think it's the the usual um outbreak response uh to Ebola and uh we will be finalizing our our recommendations to member states in the next day or so. But I think our prime aim was to um support the decision and decide whether this is a public health emergency of international concern and to consider where there's a a pandemic emergency that the former was was agreed to. So I hope I've answered your question.

[00:47:42]>> Um thank you very much professor. Let's go to NPR. We have Jonathan Lambert online. Jonathan, >> question. Um, it's about testing capacity. My understanding is that a shortage of lab test supplies and reagents was at least in part responsible for delays in confirming that this was Ebola. Um, can someone speak to the supply chain of testing and reagents and kind of where funding for this as well as funding for the transport of samples comes from and what might have caused the shortage.

[00:48:16]>> Thank you, Jonathan. Um, >> yes, thank you. I will try to be as little technical as I can. Um, as you understand the virus circulating is part of a genus of called Ebola virus. It's a different species that the one that is called Ebola. I know it is not very easy to understand and we apologize for that.

[00:48:44]uh we have taxonomist helping us on that. Um so there are a number of tests that can detect Ebola virus. All right.

[00:48:55]And there are also test that can detect all the different autotobola viruses.

[00:49:02]But this is different type of test requiring requiring different type of capacities and platform for testing.

[00:49:13]uh in DRC the reference uh national laboratory that is based in Kinshasa is equipped uh with the capacity to test for all files so all autotobola viruses and all auto marbor viruses u in the field they've scaled up capacity uh in the past because of the previous outbreak to the support to the people who recovered from the disease the ability to detect Ebola virus on a platform that can only detect that virus.

[00:49:48]Now we are working uh with uh INRB and other colleagues to look at different platform and there is a promising one the one that uh is being used and we are working very closely with Ionabi so that we can get good validation data that would be able uh to be close to patient PCR testing able to detect um bundo as well. So we are using I mean we are sorry they are using uh two different type of platform uh to ensure that dete sorry detection is timely enough at the same time they are scaling up and I think Mario Roslin and you you will want to comp to complement that along with a decentralized approach bring bringing care to patient and to communities it goes with the lab as well. It is critical that we need that we delay that we reduce the delay in terms of supplies. Um the conventional PCR mentioned that is able to detect for all fo viruses. Um there is no supply of that. The manufacturer has been producing and orders are in in going similarly to the the other kit I I mentioned. So for the time being it's not a supply issue. We need to ensure that the right platform with uh the right data obviously arrives at the right place and this is the work that is being done as we speak over >> Dr. Yuazu would you like to add something or >> thank you so much in addition to what an said I want to ask another layer of complexity which is the logistic to transport this material from Kinshasa to Buna. So for so many hours or day we are waiting for flight to go and the flight has been cancelled canceled day by day even today our colleague of Africa CDC should have lead uh to GMA and the flight he had been cancelled I'm leaving on today in order to train the team in the field tomorrow so we can go that together so it is to say that this outbreak is u happening in a very complex situation not only we have the insecurity the SH with the community we have also the logistic that is a very important because we don't have other I mean that to reach a buna that we live by a leaf so it's really important also that we share those kind of complexity so regarding the supply I think did you mention that funding is has been released as quick as 24 hours after the outbreak has been declared so we also receive 1 million pounds of form from FCDO which we really say thank you because FCDO has been a partner who support a lot our worker in the region.

[00:52:49]We also receive a fund from DJI Hera. We also will be released 2 million from our regional emergency public fund that will be released to support. So the funding is coming but now also when you have the supply we need the logistic to be able in order to reach the field which is a very important. Thank you.

[00:53:11]Thank you Dr. Yakuazu.

[00:53:13]>> Yeah, thanks for that. Just to connect some of the dots in in many of the questions whether it's around the laboratory itself, the supply chain, uh the um request for citrate priority now is to identify all the existing chains of transmission. So th this principle of identifying the chains of transmission is the same principle with every Ebola outbreak and it's very important to get that right and that's really where everyone is focused on at the moment because that will then enable us to really define the scale of the outbreak and be able to provide Kai I think ask for regular sites provide all of us the information we need both to manage the situation itself which is then the priority and then to scale the response funds in support of the excellent capacity that exists already in the DRC. We've been working with the institute national Sante public the new national public health agency for a few years now not only during outbreaks but also in peace time to scale their capacity to grow their capacity collaborating with them. INRB is a well-known world-renowned science establishment already with a lot of capacity. My colleagues have referred to the challenges in logistics in the country, the humanitarian situation, the challenges with conflict. But between all of that, this is what we need to do.

[00:54:40]Now, the final point on this on identifying chains of transmission is the biggest lesson we've learned through all our Ebola responses is that we can't do this without prioritizing the community. So if we think that we are going to jump in there and solve all the problems which is the instinct of many people working in this field then we will not have learned the lessons of history. So the lessons are that irrespective of the pressure right now to go in to do to jump that we have to work with the national institutions the communities the people it is only through them and the confidence that we can build in them that that we will be able to identify these cases isolate them identify the contact is isolate the cases treat them identify the cases treat them identify the contacts isolate them this is not possible without the community So yes, there's a lot of pressure for us to answer all the questions right now, but I also solicit a bit of patience as we figure out what is going on, what we need to do and deliver an appropriate response for this uh to support the people and the government of the DRC. Back to you.

[00:55:52]>> Thank you very much.

[00:55:54]We are really approaching uh uh 12:00 time. We would have to stop. Let's take the last two very short questions from Jamie and from Logan. So, uh Jamie first then Logan and very short and one question.

[00:56:11]>> Thank you very much. Um Dr. Equazu, you mentioned a question that I wanted to ask. But um I just wanted to go back. Um so Madame Leon, you you said that you earlier that you're thinking that this is um started probably a couple of months ago. Um and I note that the number of suspected cases is continuing to grow. I think it was 500 yesterday.

[00:56:30]Today it's 600 you mentioned. So based on those dynamics, what is your projection about how long this outbreak could last and how many people could be affected? Basically to give us an early idea of what you just mentioned uh Dr. Kuazu about um defining the scale of this outbreak. What are your early projections about that? And I just wanted to ask another quick one which sort of alludes to what you said.

[00:56:53]infomic and cultural disbelief came up from um the WR yesterday. What are you do? We have a team on the ground around Buna right now. What is being done locally to try to help address that infomic which is a term that uh director general has used very often in the past of course.

[00:57:13]>> Thank you for putting me in the spot.

[00:57:17]Uh I'm not a modeler so um I will not be able to answer uh your your your question. uh precisely we know there are teams ongoing there has been a couple of modeling stories studies that have been published again currently our understanding and focusing on what we can do now uh cutting the chain of transmission and helping communities and I think I'll defer on what's being done to my colleagues um um that being said uh we will not wait for this virus uh so we are already scaling up and As thing evolve in the field with the capacity to diagnose, with a capacity to isolate, with the capacity to care, we will get a a a better understanding on that. Uh but right now our priority is to focus on supporting affected communities with the full response capabilities as close as possible to them. And I I'll defer to you Mar Roslin >> and Dr. Janabi as well. So Dr. Jabi then >> yeah thank you. Maybe what I can top up uh regarding the trajectory, it is too early to provide any precise projection on duration or total numbers.

[00:58:30]However, experience tells us that um trajectory will really depend heavily on how quickly we can scale up case detections like my colleagues have said, isolation, community engagement, which chief way just mentioned and infection prevention measures. So at this stage I think that could be the best response.

[00:58:55]>> Okay. Thank you. So we receive some modeling of studies because we are working with some partners. One of them is one of them is the Imperial College of London who just released some modeling of studies. So based on that study they are estimation we are talking about modeling. So we are they estimate that we can have two scenarios. One of them is between 400 to 800 cases that could be and also one of them could the worst scenario could be 1,000 cases. So they use uh the method of geographical spread that is one of them. And the second method they use is the back calculation from death. So far you know as a number of death how many case they can produce in the community. However, there as my colleagues said they are estimation and reason why we are going in the field with my colleagues epidemiologist and also clinical care from HQ in order to have an premillary assessment that can give us an idea on what are we really talking about what is the extent and what could be really the starting date of that outbreak. So that can give us an idea on how we set up this uh this response. But we already agree that the respond we will scale it up. We will not wait to scale. We will really starting a very scale up response and after three to months if we the situation is under control and there is a need to scale down. So we can scale down. So that's mean we are using the no regret policy and no harm policy of the emergency response program in WH to scale up data response as big as possible.

[01:00:40]Thank you.

[01:00:42]>> Thank you. And then let's have a last question please.

[01:00:46]>> Yeah thank you L Swiss news agency. Um DJ you mentioned the volatile security situation uh in the eastern part of the country. Uh do you call the M23 to reopen formally the Koma airport in order for supplies to get faster? And linked to that uh do you plan the deployment of international rapid response team and the IHL or on top of the WH team that you have already on the ground. Thank you.

[01:01:21]>> Thank you L. I'm just uh looking who would like to uh well uh oh Abd whoever >> I can start Dr. for the yeah I'll take the second part of the question first on the deployment we already have uh firstly we have a a big who team already in the affected areas like my Rosane said uh in almost all of them they've been there it's the reason together working with the national authorities that we understand there's an outbreak at the moment and we've been scaling that up supporting the national authorities too to deploy their colleagues from Kenshasa to uh through Buna.

[01:02:09]In addition, we have a joint uh cross who team uh already on the way from both the regional office and HQ depending on skills that are needed and capacities needed and we will scale that as uh required over the next uh few days continuously. Now the principle of how we respond to outbreaks has changed significantly over the years. So we will work with the local communities identify where they have gaps before we fly down any troops to go and save them. Uh the whole principle of how we work has evolved a lot. Uh we respect the capacity that they have they have built.

[01:02:52]We identify any gaps. We discuss that with them before we start thinking about who is to go. So that's exactly what has started happening from the very first day and how we are responding to the uh needs on the ground. Um, I'll let the DG respond to the opportunities uh to um maybe discuss the airport and general access to the uh eastern DRC.

[01:03:18]>> Yeah, as you know the epicenter is it and um of course that's where the center is now. Uh and colleagues have already traveled to it. uh so there is no uh access issue based on how the disease spreads if there is any access problem then uh we will address it but now we are focused in it since that's the epicenter Buna Buna airport yeah >> just to add on the point about the international search I just want to recognize all the health clusters and the mission hospitals who have been providing cares.

[01:04:06]Yakund medical hospital where we had our American med doctors providing was attacked in 2002 destroyed. This team were there came back stayed there. The history of Ebola has always been defined by mission hospitals because the love and the compensions they have from 1976 it was Yambuku and now the mission hospital there. Just I want to recognize that the health care depends a lot of health cluster who have been providing health service before Ebola and they will continue to stay and recognize all the faith-based who've been working in remote difficult areas providing care and health services to neglected and marginalized population.

[01:04:49]>> Uh and Dr. Biller you would like to add final >> last word just a last word to say that our team has never left GMA. We always have a team in GMA and we always continue to provide a support to the population and this is what we will continue doing these doing this outbreak in GMA. So we never left GMA during all the insecurity happening. So we will continue staying to provide the security to the community we serve. Thank you.

[01:05:19]>> Thank you Dr. Biz and thanks to all our speakers. This will bring our press conference to an end. Uh we apologize to journalists who had their hands up online also some journalists here who may have had more questions but don't hesitate to contact us on media at wh.int uh if we can assist you in any possible way. We will be sending the audio and video file of this briefing shortly to our media list. I give the floor to Dr. Tedus for his closing remarks.

[01:05:50]Thank you to all members of the press, especially Akanu for joining us today and see you next time. Thank you.