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| Ebola crisis vastly underestimated, says WHO | Ebola crisis vastly underestimated, says WHO |
| (about 1 hour 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 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. | 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) | 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 hospitals has been halted amid a nationwide doctors' 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| The outbreak is affecting the Youth Olympic Games about to start in China, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled that athletes from Ebola-hit countries will not be allowed to compete in combat sports or in the pool, and Sierra Leone and Nigeria have withdrawn from the Games. | |
| 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. |