UN: Yellow fever outbreak is "serious" but not an emergency

LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization says the ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in central Africa is "serious and of great concern" but does not warrant being declared a global emergency.

On Thursday, the U.N. health agency convened an expert committee to consider whether the epidemic of yellow fever, an acute hemorrhagic disease, qualifies as an international health emergency.

After deliberating for several hours, the committee's chair, Oyewale Tomori, announced that although yellow fever does not meet the conditions for being an international health emergency it requires "intensified control measures" including better surveillance and vaccination policies.

About 15 percent of patients suffer a more toxic phase in a day and get jaundice, abdominal pain and kidney problems.