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| Ebola outbreak: Liberia medics defy 'danger money' strike call | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nurses and medical assistants fighting the Ebola outbreak in Liberia have largely ignored a call to strike over danger money and conditions. | Nurses and medical assistants fighting the Ebola outbreak in Liberia have largely ignored a call to strike over danger money and conditions. |
| Most health workers were working as normal on Monday, the BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh in Monrovia said. | Most health workers were working as normal on Monday, the BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh in Monrovia said. |
| A union official said the government had coerced workers to ignore the strike - but the government said it had simply asked them to be reasonable. | A union official said the government had coerced workers to ignore the strike - but the government said it had simply asked them to be reasonable. |
| Liberia is the country hit hardest by the deadliest ever Ebola outbreak. | Liberia is the country hit hardest by the deadliest ever Ebola outbreak. |
| Health workers are among those most at risk of catching the disease. Ninety-five have died from the virus in Liberia. | Health workers are among those most at risk of catching the disease. Ninety-five have died from the virus in Liberia. |
| The latest outbreak has killed more than 4,000 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria since it was identified in March. | The latest outbreak has killed more than 4,000 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria since it was identified in March. |
| 'Potential state failure' | 'Potential state failure' |
| World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan said the outbreak threatened the "very survival of societies and governments in already very poor countries". | World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan said the outbreak threatened the "very survival of societies and governments in already very poor countries". |
| "I have never seen an infectious disease contribute so strongly to potential state failure," she said in a speech delivered on her behalf at a health conference in the Philippines. | "I have never seen an infectious disease contribute so strongly to potential state failure," she said in a speech delivered on her behalf at a health conference in the Philippines. |
| In the US, President Barack Obama has directed tighter safety procedures when dealing with suspected Ebola patients, after a health worker treating an Ebola victim at a Texas hospital caught the virus. | In the US, President Barack Obama has directed tighter safety procedures when dealing with suspected Ebola patients, after a health worker treating an Ebola victim at a Texas hospital caught the virus. |
| Liberia's National Health Workers Association had called the strike to demand an increase in the monthly risk fee paid to those treating Ebola cases. | Liberia's National Health Workers Association had called the strike to demand an increase in the monthly risk fee paid to those treating Ebola cases. |
| The union wants workers to be paid a risk fee of $700 (£434) a month. The fee is currently less than $500 a month, on top of basic salaries of between $200 and $300. | The union wants workers to be paid a risk fee of $700 (£434) a month. The fee is currently less than $500 a month, on top of basic salaries of between $200 and $300. |
| The association also wants more protective equipment and insurance for workers, and has accused the government of not providing enough protection from the virus. | The association also wants more protective equipment and insurance for workers, and has accused the government of not providing enough protection from the virus. |
| On Monday, the association's secretary-general, George Williams, said the government had put some health workers under "duress" and persuaded them to work. | On Monday, the association's secretary-general, George Williams, said the government had put some health workers under "duress" and persuaded them to work. |
| 'Common interest' | 'Common interest' |
| Liberia's Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah said a strike would have negative consequences on those suffering from Ebola and would adversely affect progress made so far. | Liberia's Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah said a strike would have negative consequences on those suffering from Ebola and would adversely affect progress made so far. |
| The government says the scale of the epidemic means it now cannot afford the risk fee originally agreed. | The government says the scale of the epidemic means it now cannot afford the risk fee originally agreed. |
| Information Minister Lewis Brown said the government had asked health workers to be reasonable. | Information Minister Lewis Brown said the government had asked health workers to be reasonable. |
| "We are working with them the best way we possibly can, so that they understand we should have a common interest in saving lives by fighting this disease," Mr Brown said. | "We are working with them the best way we possibly can, so that they understand we should have a common interest in saving lives by fighting this disease," Mr Brown said. |
| Ebola deaths: Confirmed, probable and suspected | Ebola deaths: Confirmed, probable and suspected |
| Source: WHO | Source: WHO |
| Note: figures have occasionally been revised down as suspected or probable cases are found to be unrelated to Ebola. They do not include one death in the US recorded on 8 October. | Note: figures have occasionally been revised down as suspected or probable cases are found to be unrelated to Ebola. They do not include one death in the US recorded on 8 October. |
| How not to catch Ebola: | How not to catch Ebola: |
| Why Ebola is so dangerous | Why Ebola is so dangerous |
| How Ebola attacks | How Ebola attacks |
| Ebola: Mapping the outbreak | Ebola: Mapping the outbreak |
| 'Full inquiry' | 'Full inquiry' |
| Liberia has about 50 doctors to serve the country's 4.2 million people - an average of 0.1 doctor per 10,000 people, according to data compiled by the Afri-Dev.Info health and social development agency. | Liberia has about 50 doctors to serve the country's 4.2 million people - an average of 0.1 doctor per 10,000 people, according to data compiled by the Afri-Dev.Info health and social development agency. |
| Six months after the epidemic began in West Africa, there are still only about a quarter of the treatment beds required to tackle it. | Six months after the epidemic began in West Africa, there are still only about a quarter of the treatment beds required to tackle it. |
| Food is now in short supply as markets are disrupted in some parts of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. | Food is now in short supply as markets are disrupted in some parts of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Have you been affected by the Ebola outbreak? Do you think enough is being done where you live to fight the disease? Tell us your story. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the Ebola outbreak? Do you think enough is being done where you live to fight the disease? Tell us your story. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Have your say | Have your say |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
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