WHO sends Ebola team to Tanzania; HHS funds investigational treatment

The World Health Organization recently deployed a rapid response team and personal protective equipment to the United Republic of Tanzania following unofficial reports of two suspected cases of Ebola virus disease in the African nation. While Tanzanian authorities have not confirmed the cases, WHO has recommended further investigation and laboratory testing. Tanzania borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, where WHO in July declared the yearlong Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activated its Emergency Operations Center to support the U.S. response to the outbreak after three travel-related cases were confirmed in neighboring Uganda, and has sent more than 200 experts to DRC, countries bordering the outbreak area and WHO headquarters. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Friday announced $14 million to advance development of an investigational Ebola treatment and last month provided $23 million for Merck to produce additional doses of its investigational Ebola vaccine over the next year.