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| W.H.O. Says Outbreak of Ebola Virus Is Outpacing Control Efforts | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| ABUJA, Nigeria — In an ominous warning as fatalities mounted in West Africa from the worst known outbreak of the Ebola virus, the head of the World Health Organization said on Friday that the disease was moving faster than efforts to curb it, with potentially catastrophic consequences including a “high risk” that it will spread. | ABUJA, Nigeria — In an ominous warning as fatalities mounted in West Africa from the worst known outbreak of the Ebola virus, the head of the World Health Organization said on Friday that the disease was moving faster than efforts to curb it, with potentially catastrophic consequences including a “high risk” that it will spread. |
| The assessment was among the most dire since the outbreak was identified in March. The outbreak has been blamed for the deaths of 729 people, according to W.H.O. figures, and left over 1,300 people with confirmed or suspected infections. | The assessment was among the most dire since the outbreak was identified in March. The outbreak has been blamed for the deaths of 729 people, according to W.H.O. figures, and left over 1,300 people with confirmed or suspected infections. |
| Dr. Margaret Chan, the W.H.O. director general, was speaking as she met with the leaders of the three most affected countries — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — in Conakry, the Guinean capital, for the introduction of a $100 million plan to deploy hundreds more medical professionals in support of overstretched regional and international health workers. | Dr. Margaret Chan, the W.H.O. director general, was speaking as she met with the leaders of the three most affected countries — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — in Conakry, the Guinean capital, for the introduction of a $100 million plan to deploy hundreds more medical professionals in support of overstretched regional and international health workers. |
| “This meeting must mark a turning point in the outbreak response,” Dr. Chan said, according to a W.H.O. transcript of her remarks. “This outbreak is moving faster than our efforts to control it. If the situation continues to deteriorate, the consequences can be catastrophic in terms of lost lives but also severe socioeconomic disruption and a high risk of spread to other countries.” | “This meeting must mark a turning point in the outbreak response,” Dr. Chan said, according to a W.H.O. transcript of her remarks. “This outbreak is moving faster than our efforts to control it. If the situation continues to deteriorate, the consequences can be catastrophic in terms of lost lives but also severe socioeconomic disruption and a high risk of spread to other countries.” |
| She called the outbreak “by far the largest ever in the nearly four-decade history of this disease” and said it was “caused by the most lethal strain in the family of Ebola viruses.” | She called the outbreak “by far the largest ever in the nearly four-decade history of this disease” and said it was “caused by the most lethal strain in the family of Ebola viruses.” |
| “It is taking place in areas with fluid population movements over porous borders, and it has demonstrated its ability to spread via air travel, contrary to what has been seen in past outbreaks. Cases are occurring in rural areas which are difficult to access, but also in densely populated capital cities,” she said. | “It is taking place in areas with fluid population movements over porous borders, and it has demonstrated its ability to spread via air travel, contrary to what has been seen in past outbreaks. Cases are occurring in rural areas which are difficult to access, but also in densely populated capital cities,” she said. |
| She added that “the outbreak is affecting a large number of doctors, nurses and other health care workers, one of the most essential resources for containing an outbreak.” | She added that “the outbreak is affecting a large number of doctors, nurses and other health care workers, one of the most essential resources for containing an outbreak.” |
| “Constant mutation and adaptation are the survival mechanisms of viruses and other microbes. We must not give this virus opportunities to deliver more surprises,” she said, adding that “deep-seated beliefs and cultural practices are a significant cause of further spread and a significant barrier to rapid and effective containment.” | “Constant mutation and adaptation are the survival mechanisms of viruses and other microbes. We must not give this virus opportunities to deliver more surprises,” she said, adding that “deep-seated beliefs and cultural practices are a significant cause of further spread and a significant barrier to rapid and effective containment.” |
| The gathering in Conakry came a day after West African leaders seemed to quicken the pace of efforts to combat the disease, in what some analysts depicted as a belated acknowledgment that the response so far had been inadequate. | The gathering in Conakry came a day after West African leaders seemed to quicken the pace of efforts to combat the disease, in what some analysts depicted as a belated acknowledgment that the response so far had been inadequate. |
| Indeed, before the meeting started, there were indications of discord. The leader of Guinea’s Ebola task force said that emergency measures in Liberia, where schools have been closed, and Sierra Leone could set back efforts to control the worst outbreak of the virus since it was identified almost four decades ago. | Indeed, before the meeting started, there were indications of discord. The leader of Guinea’s Ebola task force said that emergency measures in Liberia, where schools have been closed, and Sierra Leone could set back efforts to control the worst outbreak of the virus since it was identified almost four decades ago. |
| “Currently, some measures taken by our neighbors could make the fight against Ebola even harder,” Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité, the Ebola task force leader, told Reuters. | “Currently, some measures taken by our neighbors could make the fight against Ebola even harder,” Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité, the Ebola task force leader, told Reuters. |
| “When children are not supervised, they can go anywhere and make the problem worse. It is part of what we will be talking about.” | “When children are not supervised, they can go anywhere and make the problem worse. It is part of what we will be talking about.” |
| Sierra Leone’s emergency measures include house-to-house searches for infected people and the deployment of the army and the police. | Sierra Leone’s emergency measures include house-to-house searches for infected people and the deployment of the army and the police. |
| One person, traveling from Liberia, died in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, which introduced airport screening of travelers from the stricken region on Thursday. | One person, traveling from Liberia, died in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, which introduced airport screening of travelers from the stricken region on Thursday. |
| “The scale of the Ebola outbreak, and the persistent threat it poses, requires W.H.O. and Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to take the response to a new level, and this will require increased resources, in-country medical expertise, regional preparedness and coordination,” Dr. Chan said in an earlier statement on Thursday. | “The scale of the Ebola outbreak, and the persistent threat it poses, requires W.H.O. and Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to take the response to a new level, and this will require increased resources, in-country medical expertise, regional preparedness and coordination,” Dr. Chan said in an earlier statement on Thursday. |
| According to the W.H.O., the $100 million plan “identifies the need for several hundred more personnel to be deployed in affected countries to supplement overstretched treatment facilities.” | According to the W.H.O., the $100 million plan “identifies the need for several hundred more personnel to be deployed in affected countries to supplement overstretched treatment facilities.” |
| Hundreds of international aid workers and W.H.O. specialists “are already supporting national and regional response efforts,” the statement said. “But more are urgently required. Of greatest need are clinical doctors and nurses, epidemiologists, social mobilization experts, logisticians and data managers.” | Hundreds of international aid workers and W.H.O. specialists “are already supporting national and regional response efforts,” the statement said. “But more are urgently required. Of greatest need are clinical doctors and nurses, epidemiologists, social mobilization experts, logisticians and data managers.” |
| “The plan also outlines the need to increase preparedness systems in neighboring nations and strengthen global capacities,” the statement said. The new strategy is intended to stop the transmission of the Ebola virus within the most affected countries and prevent the spread of the virus to neighboring countries across the region’s largely porous borders. | “The plan also outlines the need to increase preparedness systems in neighboring nations and strengthen global capacities,” the statement said. The new strategy is intended to stop the transmission of the Ebola virus within the most affected countries and prevent the spread of the virus to neighboring countries across the region’s largely porous borders. |
| Part of the plan would involve improved communication “so that people know how to avoid infection and what to do if they fear they may have come into contact with the virus,” the statement added. “Improving prevention, detecting and reporting suspected cases, referring people infected with the disease for medical care, as well as psychosocial support, are key.” | Part of the plan would involve improved communication “so that people know how to avoid infection and what to do if they fear they may have come into contact with the virus,” the statement added. “Improving prevention, detecting and reporting suspected cases, referring people infected with the disease for medical care, as well as psychosocial support, are key.” |
| As the alarms about the outbreak grew, so, too, have concerns that the disease will be carried further afield by travelers from the stricken countries. The African Union, for instance, announced on Friday that it was postponing a routine rotation of its peacekeeping force in Somalia for fear that new soldiers arriving from Sierra Leone could be infected. | As the alarms about the outbreak grew, so, too, have concerns that the disease will be carried further afield by travelers from the stricken countries. The African Union, for instance, announced on Friday that it was postponing a routine rotation of its peacekeeping force in Somalia for fear that new soldiers arriving from Sierra Leone could be infected. |
| The outbreak has raised concerns far beyond Africa, despite official efforts to tamp down such fears. | The outbreak has raised concerns far beyond Africa, despite official efforts to tamp down such fears. |
| The Philippines said Friday that it was introducing health travelers from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, who would be screened when they arrived and monitored for a month. Lebanon was reported to have suspended work permits for residents of the same three countries, news reports said. Dubai’s Emirates airline said it was suspending flights to Conakry as of Saturday. | The Philippines said Friday that it was introducing health travelers from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, who would be screened when they arrived and monitored for a month. Lebanon was reported to have suspended work permits for residents of the same three countries, news reports said. Dubai’s Emirates airline said it was suspending flights to Conakry as of Saturday. |
| At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Moses Sesay, a cyclist from Sierra Leone, told the British tabloid The Daily Mirror that he had been quarantined for four days and tested for Ebola after feeling ill. He has since been pronounced healthy. | At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Moses Sesay, a cyclist from Sierra Leone, told the British tabloid The Daily Mirror that he had been quarantined for four days and tested for Ebola after feeling ill. He has since been pronounced healthy. |
| “I was sick. I felt tired and listless,” he said. “All the doctors were in special suits to treat me — they dressed like I had Ebola. I was very scared.” | “I was sick. I felt tired and listless,” he said. “All the doctors were in special suits to treat me — they dressed like I had Ebola. I was very scared.” |
| Jackie Brock-Doyle, a spokeswoman for the games, told reporters on Friday: “Just to be really clear, there is no Ebola in the athletes’ village, there is no Ebola virus in Scotland.” | Jackie Brock-Doyle, a spokeswoman for the games, told reporters on Friday: “Just to be really clear, there is no Ebola in the athletes’ village, there is no Ebola virus in Scotland.” |
| Ms. Brock-Doyle said there had been no confirmation of newspaper reports that a second athlete from Sierra Leone, the mountain biker Mohamed Tholley, had gone missing in Scotland. | Ms. Brock-Doyle said there had been no confirmation of newspaper reports that a second athlete from Sierra Leone, the mountain biker Mohamed Tholley, had gone missing in Scotland. |
| Only weeks after the beginning of the outbreak, the Italian authorities tightened health checks at airports and on ships from West Africa. But epidemiologists in Italy suggested there was little risk that the hundreds of unauthorized migrants that reach southern Italy every day, often after long boat journeys from North Africa, were carrying the virus. | Only weeks after the beginning of the outbreak, the Italian authorities tightened health checks at airports and on ships from West Africa. But epidemiologists in Italy suggested there was little risk that the hundreds of unauthorized migrants that reach southern Italy every day, often after long boat journeys from North Africa, were carrying the virus. |
| “Migrants cross the desert in journeys that take weeks, if not months, before getting on a boat to Europe. They would manifest the disease long before arriving,” Dr. Massimo Galli, a specialist in infectious diseases at University Hospital in Milan, said in a telephone interview. “The incubation time is about a week. No one would survive the trip on land.” | “Migrants cross the desert in journeys that take weeks, if not months, before getting on a boat to Europe. They would manifest the disease long before arriving,” Dr. Massimo Galli, a specialist in infectious diseases at University Hospital in Milan, said in a telephone interview. “The incubation time is about a week. No one would survive the trip on land.” |
| “The only way in which a sick patient could spread the virus is if he or she gets on a plane to Europe,” he said. “With such an emergency level, it’s extremely unlikely.” | “The only way in which a sick patient could spread the virus is if he or she gets on a plane to Europe,” he said. “With such an emergency level, it’s extremely unlikely.” |
| Two American aid workers infected with Ebola in Liberia are in serious condition and will be transported back to the United States for medical care. They are expected to arrive early next week, according to a statement released on Friday by Samaritan’s Purse, the religious organization that sponsored one of them, Dr. Ken Brantly. The other worker is Nancy Writebol, who was working for another Christian missionary organization, SIM. | |
| Samaritan’s Purse has declined to say where the two are being taken, but officials at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, which has a special containment unit for dangerous infectious diseases, said they are preparing to receive one patient. They declined to name the patient, citing privacy laws. | |
| A hospital spokeswoman said she was “seeking an answer to the question about who made the decision” to admit an Ebola patient to the hospital. |