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Ebola crisis vastly underestimated, says WHO | Ebola crisis vastly underestimated, says WHO |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The scale of the Ebola outbreak appears to be "vastly underestimated", the UN's health agency says, as the death toll from the disease reaches 1,069. | The scale of the Ebola outbreak appears to be "vastly underestimated", the UN's health agency says, as the death toll from the disease reaches 1,069. |
The World Health Organization (WHO)said its staff had seen evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths do not reflect the scale of the crisis. | |
It said in a statement that "extraordinary measures" were needed. | It said in a statement that "extraordinary measures" were needed. |
The outbreak began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. | The outbreak began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. |
However, the WHO said the risk of transmission of Ebola during air travel remained low, as the disease is not airborne. | However, the WHO said the risk of transmission of Ebola during air travel remained low, as the disease is not airborne. |
As a consequence, Kenya Airways has rejected pressure to suspend its flights to the Ebola-hit states of West Africa. | As a consequence, Kenya Airways has rejected pressure to suspend its flights to the Ebola-hit states of West Africa. |
Meanwhile, the international ratings agency Moody's says the Ebola outbreak - the world's deadliest so far - may have significant economic ramifications on the affected countries because commercial and transport disruptions are expected to last at least another month. | |
'Rampant fear' | 'Rampant fear' |
The WHO said the outbreak was expected to continue "for some time". | The WHO said the outbreak was expected to continue "for some time". |
"Staff at the outbreak sites see evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak," its statement said. | "Staff at the outbreak sites see evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak," its statement said. |
"WHO is co-ordinating a massive scaling up of the international response." | "WHO is co-ordinating a massive scaling up of the international response." |
Part of the challenge was the fact that the outbreak was in "settings characterised by extreme poverty, dysfunctional health systems, a severe shortage of doctors and rampant fear", the WHO added. | Part of the challenge was the fact that the outbreak was in "settings characterised by extreme poverty, dysfunctional health systems, a severe shortage of doctors and rampant fear", the WHO added. |
Ebola virus disease (EVD) | |
In Nigeria - where four people have now died of Ebola - the residency training programme for doctors who work in government-run hospital has been halted amid a nationwide doctor's strike that began in July. | |
BBC Africa's Chris Ewokor says the termination of the scheme - affecting an estimated 16,000 doctors - is likely to be linked to the ongoing strike as constitutionally other personnel are not allowed to be brought in to do their work. | |
With fears about the spread of Ebola, the authorities want to be able to bring military doctors into hospitals as part of contingency plans, he says. | |
The Ebola cases in Nigeria are linked to the late Liberian government employee, Patrick Sawyer, who brought the disease to the city of Lagos in July. | |
Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of a person who is infected. | Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of a person who is infected. |
Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas such as eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure. | Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas such as eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure. |
Ebola: Mapping the outbreak | Ebola: Mapping the outbreak |
Are you in the affected regions? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ebola' in the subject heading and including your contact details. | Are you in the affected regions? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ebola' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |