Disease

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia

Between 18 and 26 October 2014, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia (KSA) notified WHO of 12 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including five deaths.

Ebola - Update

The reports of declining rates of new Ebola cases in Liberia, announced by the World Health Organization on Oct. 29, fuelled hopes that the outbreak response is working, but experts are cautioning that it is too soon to believe West Africa has entered a new phase of the epidemic.

Liberia is one of the worst affected countries by the Ebola outbreak, with more than 6,500 cases and 2,413 deaths reported in that country alone as of Oct. 31.

In addition to the perhaps positive news out of Liberia, WHO officials are saying that the total number of new cases in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea may also be levelling off, with some officials telling the BBC News that they now expect the rate of new cases will be steady, at around 1,000 weekly cases total in all three countries. This is a contrast to the increasing pace seen earlier weeks, when the number of new cases was growing exponentially.