A dead dog, suspected of being responsible for the reoccurrence of the deadly Ebola virus in Liberia, tested negative for the virus, officials said Tuesday, according to Reuters. The report comes after a review panel declared that the United Nation’s World Health Organization (WHO) did not act quickly enough on the latest Ebola outbreak.
Two new cases of the Ebola virus, which has killed 11,000 people so far, mostly in West Africa, were also confirmed in Liberia on Tuesday. The virus does not have a vaccine or a medicine yet.
Local residents reportedly believed that the first victim of Ebola since the country was declared free of the virus shared a dog meat meal with his neighbors. The man died on June 28, Reuters reported. However, researchers who tested the carcass of the dog found that it was not infected with the virus.
"I learned today the result was negative, but we have to be careful because the remains are in bad condition and the test is designed for humans," a health official in Liberia said, according to Reuters, adding: "Even if that dog had anything, finding it now will be difficult because of the time lapse. We are trying to do everything to find the source."
The first victim of the latest spread was identified as 17-year-old Abraham Memaigar, who does not have a history of visiting any of the affected areas. Two other people in Liberia, who tested positive for the virus, were hospitalized and five cases have been confirmed so far in the new outbreak, Reuters reported .
An independent report by a panel, commissioned by the WHO, said that the organization needed an urgent overhaul .
“The Ebola crisis not only exposed organizational failings in the functioning of WHO, but it also demonstrated shortcomings in the International Health Regulations,” the report said Tuesday, adding: “WHO must re-establish its pre-eminence as the guardian of global public health; this will require significant changes throughout WHO.”
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