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| Ebola outbreak 'threatens Liberia's national existence' | Ebola outbreak 'threatens Liberia's national existence' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Liberia is facing a "serious threat" to its national existence as the deadly Ebola virus "spreads like wildfire" there, its defence minister says. | Liberia is facing a "serious threat" to its national existence as the deadly Ebola virus "spreads like wildfire" there, its defence minister says. |
| Brownie Samukai told the UN Security Council that the international response to the crisis was "less than robust". | Brownie Samukai told the UN Security Council that the international response to the crisis was "less than robust". |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that thousands more cases could occur in Liberia, which has been worst hit by the West Africa outbreak. | The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that thousands more cases could occur in Liberia, which has been worst hit by the West Africa outbreak. |
| Some 2,288 people have died from Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. | Some 2,288 people have died from Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. |
| Infected health workers | Infected health workers |
| The WHO says half of these deaths occurred in the three weeks running up to 6 September. | |
| In Nigeria, eight people have died out of a total 21 cases. | |
| In Senegal, the only person to have been diagnosed with Ebola last month has recovered, a health official has said. | |
| The patient, a Guinean student, tested negative after receiving treatment, the official said. | |
| Liberia at a glance: | Liberia at a glance: |
| Source: WHO | Source: WHO |
| Mr Samukai warned on Tuesday that the disease was "devouring everything in its path" in Liberia. | |
| The country's weak health system was already overwhelmed by the number of cases, he said. | |
| Mr Samukai told UN Security Council members that Liberia lacked "infrastructure, logistical capacity, professional expertise and financial resources to effectively address this disease". | Mr Samukai told UN Security Council members that Liberia lacked "infrastructure, logistical capacity, professional expertise and financial resources to effectively address this disease". |
| "Liberia is facing a serious threat to its national existence. The deadly Ebola virus has caused a disruption of the normal functioning of our state," he said. | "Liberia is facing a serious threat to its national existence. The deadly Ebola virus has caused a disruption of the normal functioning of our state," he said. |
| Separately on Tuesday, the UN's envoy in Liberia said that at least 160 Liberian health workers had contracted the disease and half of them had died. | Separately on Tuesday, the UN's envoy in Liberia said that at least 160 Liberian health workers had contracted the disease and half of them had died. |
| Karin Landgren described the outbreak as a "latter-day plague" that was growing exponentially. | Karin Landgren described the outbreak as a "latter-day plague" that was growing exponentially. |
| She added that health workers were operating without proper protective equipment, training or pay, in comments to the UN Security Council. | She added that health workers were operating without proper protective equipment, training or pay, in comments to the UN Security Council. |
| "Liberians are facing their gravest threat since their war," Ms Landgren said. | "Liberians are facing their gravest threat since their war," Ms Landgren said. |
| "I don't think anybody can say right now that the international response to the Ebola outbreak is sufficient," US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said after the Security Council briefing. | "I don't think anybody can say right now that the international response to the Ebola outbreak is sufficient," US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said after the Security Council briefing. |
| 'Insufficient response' | 'Insufficient response' |
| Ebola spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments. | Ebola spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments. |
| Unlike other West African nations affected by the outbreak, efforts to contain the virus in Liberia were not working well, the WHO has said. | Unlike other West African nations affected by the outbreak, efforts to contain the virus in Liberia were not working well, the WHO has said. |
| The reason for this remains unclear; however, experts say it could be linked to burial practices, which can include touching the body and eating a meal near it. | The reason for this remains unclear; however, experts say it could be linked to burial practices, which can include touching the body and eating a meal near it. |
| There are also not enough beds to treat Ebola patients, particularly in the capital Monrovia, with many people told to go back home, where they may spread the virus. | There are also not enough beds to treat Ebola patients, particularly in the capital Monrovia, with many people told to go back home, where they may spread the virus. |
| The WHO is calling on organisations combating the outbreak in Liberia to scale up efforts "three-to-four fold" to control the outbreak. | The WHO is calling on organisations combating the outbreak in Liberia to scale up efforts "three-to-four fold" to control the outbreak. |
| The US says it will help the African Union mobilise 100 African health workers to the region and contribute an additional $10m (£6.2m) in funds to deal with the outbreak. | The US says it will help the African Union mobilise 100 African health workers to the region and contribute an additional $10m (£6.2m) in funds to deal with the outbreak. |
| The announcement comes as a fourth US aid worker infected with the deadly virus was transported to a hospital in Atlanta for treatment. The identity of the aid worker has not yet been revealed. | The announcement comes as a fourth US aid worker infected with the deadly virus was transported to a hospital in Atlanta for treatment. The identity of the aid worker has not yet been revealed. |
| Two other aid workers who were treated at the same hospital have since recovered from an Ebola infection. | Two other aid workers who were treated at the same hospital have since recovered from an Ebola infection. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he will hold a meeting on the international response to the Ebola crisis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this month. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he will hold a meeting on the international response to the Ebola crisis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this month. |
| Has your family or someone you know been affected by the Ebola virus? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Has your family or someone you know been affected by the Ebola virus? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |