# 9234
The World Health Organization has released their 9th update to their Ebola Response Roadmap, indicating that the total number of cases is now just shy of 10,000 infections. There are, of course, significant gaps in surveillance and reporting, and so these numbers are likely to be a substantial undercount.
Below I’ve posted some excerpts from the 12-page PDF report. Follow the link to read the report in its entirety.
A total of 9936 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported in five affected countries (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Spain, and the United States of America) and two previously affected countries (Nigeria and Senegal) up to the end of 19 October. A total of 4877 deaths have been reported.
The outbreaks of EVD in Senegal and Nigeria were declared over on 17 October and 19 October 2014, respectively.
EVD transmission remains persistent and widespread in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. All but one administrative district in Liberia and all administrative districts in Sierra Leone have now reported at least one confirmed or probable case of EVD since the outbreak began. Cases of EVD transmission remain lowest in Guinea, but case numbers are still very high in absolute terms. Transmission remains intense in the capital cities of the three most affected countries. Case numbers continue to be under-reported, especially from the Liberian capital Monrovia.
Of the countries with localized transmission, both Spain and the United States continue to monitor potential contacts. On 21 October the single patient with EVD in Spain tested negative for the disease for a second time. Spain will be declared free of EVD 42 days after the date of the second negative test unless a new case arises during that period.
On 22 October 2014, WHO convened the third Emergency Committee on Ebola under the International Health Regulations (2005).
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HEALTH-CARE WORKERS
A total of 443 health-care workers (HCWs) are known to have been infected with EVD up to the end of 19 October. 244 HCWs have died (table 2). WHO is undertaking extensive investigations to determine the cause of infection in each case. Early indications are that a substantial proportion of infections occurred outside the context of Ebola treatment and care. Infection prevention and control quality assurance checks are now underway at every Ebola treatment unit in the three intense-transmission countries. At the same time, exhaustive efforts are ongoing to ensure an ample supply of optimal personal protective equipment to all Ebola treatment facilities, along with the provision of training and relevant guidelines to ensure that all HCWs are exposed to the minimum possible level of risk.
