WHO: Global Alert and Response (GAR) – Disease Outbreak News [to 23 August 2014]
http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/
:: Ebola virus disease update – west Africa 22 August 2014
Epidemiology and surveillance
Between 19 and 20 August 2014, a total of 142 new cases of Ebola virus disease (laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspect cases) as well as 77 deaths were reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

Health sector response
Questions have been received in WHO Headquarters about the original proposed budget for the response and the new draft budget, which is being reviewed by partners. The increase in needed resources is based on improved data and understanding of the situation on the ground in the affected countries. The new estimation of costs is derived using a unit-cost model, built for the most intense transmission areas and reflects the average operational costs based on the current situation in the affected countries. The major assumptions for the cost estimates will be announced towards the end of next week.

WHO continues to receive reports of rumoured or suspected cases from countries around the world and systematic verification of these cases is ongoing. Countries are encouraged to continue engaging in active surveillance and preparedness activities. As of today, no new cases have been confirmed outside of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, or Sierra Leone.

WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions be applied except in cases where individuals have been confirmed or are suspected of being infected with EVD or where individuals have had contact with cases of EVD. (Contacts do not include properly-protected health-care workers and laboratory staff.) Temporary recommendations from the Emergency Committee with regard to actions to be taken by countries can be found at:
IHR Emergency Committee on Ebola outbreak in west Africa

:: WHO Director-General briefs Geneva UN missions on the Ebola outbreak – 12 August 2014

:: Statement on travel and transport in relation to Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak – 18 August 2014

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Ethical considerations for use of unregistered interventions for Ebola virus disease
Report of an advisory panel to WHO
2014 :: 10 pages :: WHO reference number: WHO/HIS/KER/GHE/14.1
Overview
West Africa is experiencing the largest, most severe, most complex outbreak of Ebola virus disease in history. On 11 August 2014, WHO convened a consultation to consider and assess the ethical implications for clinical decision-¬making of use of unregistered interventions that have shown promising results in the laboratory and in animal models but that have not yet been evaluated for safety and efficacy in humans.

Conclusion [full text from report p.7]
In the particular context of the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa, it is ethically acceptable to offer unproven interventions that have shown promising results in the laboratory and in animal models but have not yet been evaluated for safety and efficacy in humans as potential treatment or prevention.

Ethical, scientific and pragmatic criteria must guide the provision of such interventions. The ethical criteria include transparency about all aspects of care, so that the maximum information is obtained about the effects of the interventions, fairness, promotion of cosmopolitan solidarity, informed consent, freedom of choice, confidentiality, respect for the person, preservation of dignity, involvement of the community and risk–benefit assessment.

If and when unproven interventions that have not yet been evaluated for safety and efficacy in humans but have shown promising results in the laboratory and in animal models are used to treat patients, those involved have a moral obligation to collect and share all the scientifically relevant data generated, including from treatments provided for “compassionate use”.

Researchers have a moral duty to evaluate these interventions (for treatment or prevention) in clinical trials that are of the best possible design in the current exceptional circumstances of the West African Ebola outbreak, in order to establish the safety and efficacy of the interventions or to provide evidence to stop their use. Continuous evaluation should guide future interventions.