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Ebola crisis: Infections 'slowing in Liberia' Ebola crisis: Infections 'slowing in Liberia'
(about 5 hours later)
The World Health Organization (WHO) says there has been a decline in the spread of Ebola in Liberia, the country hardest hit in the outbreak.The World Health Organization (WHO) says there has been a decline in the spread of Ebola in Liberia, the country hardest hit in the outbreak.
The WHO's Bruce Aylward said it was confident the response to the virus was now gaining the upper hand.The WHO's Bruce Aylward said it was confident the response to the virus was now gaining the upper hand.
But he warned against any suggestion that the crisis was over.But he warned against any suggestion that the crisis was over.
He said the new number of cases globally was 13,703 and that the death toll, to be published later on Wednesday, would probably pass 5,000. The WHO later said the number of cases globally had risen more than 3,000 to 13,703 since its last report, but that this was due to reporting reasons.
The number of deaths was put at 4,920, roughly the same as the last report four days ago. All but 10 of the deaths have been in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
In other developments:
'Pet tiger''Pet tiger'
The figure of 13,703 is a significant leap on the previous WHO situation report on Saturday, which showed cases rising above 10,000 for the first time - to 10,141. The latest WHO figure of 13,703 cases is a significant leap on its previous situation report on Saturday, which showed cases rising above 10,000 for the first time - to 10,141.
But Dr Aylward, the WHO's assistant director general, said that this increase was due to data being updated with old cases, rather than new cases being reported.But Dr Aylward, the WHO's assistant director general, said that this increase was due to data being updated with old cases, rather than new cases being reported.
Saturday's situation report put the death toll at 4,922.Saturday's situation report put the death toll at 4,922.
Liberia's Red Cross said its teams collected 117 bodies last week, down from a high of 315 in September. The similar death toll in the latest report was mainly a result of a revision of the Liberian statistics.
Treatment centres also have empty beds available for patients. Cases there rose from 4,655 to 6,535 but reported deaths dropped from 2,705 to 2,413.
Deaths in Guinea rose from 926 to 997 and in Sierra Leone from 1,281 to 1,500.
Liberia's Red Cross said its teams collected 117 bodies last week, down from a high of 315 in September. Treatment centres also have empty beds available for patients.
Dr Aylward said : "It appears that the trend is real in Liberia and there may indeed be a slowing."Dr Aylward said : "It appears that the trend is real in Liberia and there may indeed be a slowing."
"Do we feel confident that the response is now getting an upper hand on the virus? Yes, we are seeing a slowing rate of new cases, very definitely.""Do we feel confident that the response is now getting an upper hand on the virus? Yes, we are seeing a slowing rate of new cases, very definitely."
Dr Aylward said there had been "a huge effort to inform the population about the disease, to change the behaviours that put them at risk".Dr Aylward said there had been "a huge effort to inform the population about the disease, to change the behaviours that put them at risk".
And he said there had been "a real step up in the work to put in place safe burials".And he said there had been "a real step up in the work to put in place safe burials".
But Dr Aylward said the data was still being examined and cautioned against thinking the crisis was over.But Dr Aylward said the data was still being examined and cautioned against thinking the crisis was over.
He said: "A slight decline in cases in a few days versus getting this thing closed out is a completely different ball game.He said: "A slight decline in cases in a few days versus getting this thing closed out is a completely different ball game.
"It's like saying your pet tiger is under control.""It's like saying your pet tiger is under control."
In other developments: Later, US President Barack Obama praised the progress made in Liberia, but also warned: "This is still a severe, significant outbreak... We've got a long way to go."
Power visit He said again that the disease had to be tackled at its source in West Africa, adding: "If we don't deal with the problem there, it will come here."
The vast majority of cases and deaths from the disease have been in three countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Until Ebola was contained, he said, there could be more individual cases in the US.
Magnate's gift
On Wednesday, South Africa's first black billionaire, Patrice Motsepe, donated $1m (£620,000) to Guinea to help the country fight Ebola.On Wednesday, South Africa's first black billionaire, Patrice Motsepe, donated $1m (£620,000) to Guinea to help the country fight Ebola.
The mining magnate said he hoped it would assist with clinical management, social mobilisation and other key steps in controlling the deadly virus.The mining magnate said he hoped it would assist with clinical management, social mobilisation and other key steps in controlling the deadly virus.
His donation was announced as the US welcomed the international aid effort.His donation was announced as the US welcomed the international aid effort.
America's UN envoy Samantha Power, who has been concluding her visit to the region, praised the efforts of Ebola-hit nations and foreign donors and urged them to continue to help.
Her final stop was the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response in Accra, Ghana. She will now fly on to Brussels.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)Ebola virus disease (EVD)
Ebola special reportEbola special report
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this article? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukHave you been affected by the issues raised in this article? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk