EBOLA/EVD [to 11 July 2015]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC); “Threat to international peace and security” (UN Security Council)

Editor’s Note:
A number of key reports, recommendations, meetings and actions marked the past week in Ebola/EVD. In summary:
:: The weekly Ebola Situation Report – 8 July 2015 reported 30 new confirmed cases across the three affected countries, noting that “…significant challenges remain. A residual lack of trust in the response among some affected communities means that some cases still evade detection for too long, increasing the risk of further hidden transmission. The exportation of cases to densely populated urban areas such as Freetown and Conakry remains a risk, whilst the origin of the new cluster of cases in Liberia is not yet well understood…”

:: The IHR Emergency Committee held its sixth meeting, assessing the outbreak response and current status. The key result was that Committee recommended that the EVD outbreak “continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.”

:: The WHO-convened Ebola Interim Assessment Panel issued its report on the overall Ebola response, noting that it “… believes that this is a defining moment for the health of the global community. WHO must re-establish its pre-eminence as the guardian of global public health; this will require significant changes throughout WHO with the understanding that this includes both the Secretariat and the Member States [and] …The Ebola crisis not only exposed organizational failings in the functioning of WHO, but it also demonstrated shortcomings in the International Health Regulations (2005)…” The WHO issued a response to the report outlining a number of action items responding to the report and its recommendations.

:: The UN convened an International Ebola Recovery Conference in New York which ran 9-10 July 2015. The Conference was organized as a series of technical sessions focused on the continuing EVD response and post-outbreak recovery planning, with a concluding pledging meeting which generated commitments of several billion dollars.

:: GAVI announced support for rebuilding of immunisation programmes in Ebola-affected countries which were largely dormant during the Ebola response period, leaving “hundreds of thousands of children who either missed out or are at risk of missing out will now receive their vaccinations…”
Ebola Situation Report – 8 July 2015
[Excerpts]
SUMMARY
:: There were 30 confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in the week to 5 July: 18 in Guinea, 3 in Liberia, and 9 in Sierra Leone. Although this is the highest weekly total since mid-May, improvements to case investigation and contact tracing, together with enhanced incentives to encourage case reporting and compliance with quarantine measures have led to a better understanding of chains of transmission than was the case a month ago. This, in turn, has resulted in a decreasing proportion of cases arising from as-yet unknown sources of infection (5 of 30 cases in the week to 5 July), particularly in previously problematic areas such as Boke and Forecariah in Guinea, and Kambia and Port Loko in Sierra Leone. However, significant challenges remain. A residual lack of trust in the response among some affected communities means that some cases still evade detection for too long, increasing the risk of further hidden transmission. The exportation of cases to densely populated urban areas such as Freetown and Conakry remains a risk, whilst the origin of the new cluster of cases in Liberia is not yet well understood…

COUNTRIES WITH WIDESPREAD AND INTENSE TRANSMISSION
:: There have been a total of 27,573 reported confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of EVD in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (figure 1, table 1) up to 5 July, with 11,246 reported deaths (this total includes reported deaths among probable and suspected cases, although outcomes for many cases are unknown). A total of 18 new confirmed cases were reported in Guinea, 3 in Liberia, and 9 in Sierra Leone in the week to 5 July…
International community pledges more than five billion dollars to help recovery of Ebola-affected countries
10 Jul 2015
New York – The international community has pledged more than five billion dollars to support Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in their efforts to recover from the devastating effects of Ebola, at a high level United Nations Conference in New York today (Friday).

Opening the International Ebola Recovery Conference United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: “Together, let us jumpstart a robust recovery process over the next two years, and usher in a better future for generations to come.”

The Secretary-General was joined by the Presidents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and the Secretary-General of the Mano River Union, who were seeking international support as well as financial commitments for their national and regional recovery strategies over the next two years.

Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, who chaired the Conference, said: “We have seen a very encouraging response today. The preliminary figure for funds announced today amount to $3.4 billion, taking the total resources pledged for the recovery of the Ebola-affected countries to around five billion dollars. The whole spirit of optimism around the conference and the willingness of partners to see this as a long-term endeavor is hugely encouraging.”

Dr. David Nabarro, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Ebola, said: “This is a very promising moment. The amount pledged represents a tremendous springboard for recovery. Everyone today has stressed that the partnership we have for the response to the outbreak must be sustained in to the period of recovery. The world is going to stand by these countries as they recover and help them get back on the track of equitable economic and social development.”

The United Nations organized the International Ebola Recovery Conference in partnership with the African Union, European Union, the World Bank and the African Development Bank. A day of technical consultation on the recovery strategies on Thursday 9 July was followed by the high level event on 10 July, convened by the Secretary-General, and attended by the Chairperson of the African Union, the Presidents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and the Secretary-General of the Mano River Union.